PROVIDENCE — Patrolmen Thomas J. Zincone Jr. and Gregory M. Sion, members of the gun task force, have won the Rhea Archambault Award, the top honor that the Police Department bestows.

In 2005, Zincone and Sion racked up 29 separate arrests of individuals on gun crimes, as well as numerous arrests on drug crimes.

Most of their gun arrests were prosecuted federally under a program called Safe Streets, in which offenders face longer sentences, in far-away prisons, than they would have to serve if they were convicted in state court. “Their actions and dedication to duty, along with [a] partnership created with federal and state prosecutors, without a doubt had a direct impact in reducing crime and violence in the city of Providence,” the awards committee said.

Zincone and Sion were recognized at a recent ceremony at the Public Safety Complex in which 23 police officers and civilians were honored.

Detectives Andrew P. Lawton and Nicholas A. Ludovici were the second-place finishers for the Archambault Award and Patrolmen Patrick Potter and Kris Poplaski finished third.

While assigned as partners in the narcotics and organized crime bureau in 2005, Lawton and Ludovici conducted investigations that resulted in the arrests of several individuals for narcotics and weapons violations and the seizure of 19 firearms, including an automatic weapon; more than one-half kilogram of powder cocaine; 125 grams of crack cocaine; 150 grams of heroin; 126 pounds of marijuana; and $32,000 cash.

Working as a team in Olneyville, Potter and Poplaski, too, were responsible for getting several guns and quantities of drugs off the streets, and they were credited with solving several robberies.

The Archambault Award was established in 1970, after the death of Norman "Pete" Archambault, a prominent Providence businessman. The awards fund was set up in his mother’s name.

It is presented annually to an outstanding police officer or officers who are selected by their peers. It was Norman Archambault’s intention that the award would elevate the dignity and image of the department.

The awards committee for this year consisted of Capt. Steven Melaragno, Patrolmen James E. Carr, James F. Mellor, Richard Mills and Thomas J. Zincone Jr., and Detectives Richard F. Ruggiero Jr. and John F. Mellor.

The four other categories and the respective winners are:

CHIEF’S AWARDS

Detective Richard F. Ruggiero Jr.

While assigned to the FBI’s high-intensity drug task force from November 2004 through January 2005, he worked undercover, making large-scale cocaine purchases from two local dealers, according to the police. Ruggiero made seven purchases of cocaine ranging in weight from one ounce to one kilogram. A search warrant yielded three ounces of cocaine and a .25-caliber handgun, and the dealers were arrested and convicted.

Patrolman Robert C. Heaton

On Feb. 6, 2005, while off duty at the Citizens Bank branch office at the Super Stop & Shop supermarket on West River Street, Heaton heard a security officer say the bank had just been robbed. Heaton saw the suspect attempting to get into a cab, and struggled with the man and detained him until officers arrived. The suspect was charged with bank robbery and admitted in court that he had robbed another Citizens branch in Smithfield.

Sgt. Dean R. Isabella

On Oct. 11, 2005, Isabella saw a man matching the description of a person wanted in a string of convenience store robberies in the Federal Hill area. The man, who was later identified as Victor Cortes, fled, but was quickly apprehended. He was charged with four store robberies. The arrest took an unexpected turn when after further investigation, Cortes was charged with one count of murder in the unsolved death of a missing woman, Yodit Kaleab, of Providence. Thanks to Isabella’s experience and dedication, the Kaleab murder was cleared, the awards committee said.

Patrolman Brian McNally

McNally went to a house to investigate a 911 call on Nov. 5, 2005, and heard a disturbance and a cry for help. Interrupting an armed home invasion, the officer single-handedly apprehended a suspect who had a gun and a large kitchen knife. He immediately tended to the victims.

Detectives Robert M. Enright and Joseph A. Colanduono

On detached duty from the narcotics and organized crime bureau to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Enright and Colanduono conducted an investigation in August 2005 into a large-scale cocaine-trafficking operation based in Waterbury, Conn. A search warrant served in Waterbury resulted in the largest single seizure of cocaine and cash in Connecticut last year: 15-plus kilograms of cocaine, $72,000 cash and a .380-caliber handgun.

Patrolmen John Black and Robert Carlin Jr.

On Dec. 30, 2005, Black and Carlin saw a man attempting to get into a South Side apartment. Having worked the area as a team for several months, they knew the man did not live there. The man fled inside and residents could be heard screaming. The suspect, who was holding a .25-caliber handgun, was taken into custody after a brief struggle. The officers learned that the suspect, Tracey Barros, was responsible for the unsolved murder of Deivy Jose Felipe in Providence.

Sergeants William M. Dwyer Jr. and Henry Remolina

While assigned as detectives in the narcotics and organized crime bureau — before they were promoted to sergeant — Dwyer and Remolina conducted an extensive investigation into a large narcotics-trafficking organization in Providence. As a result, two suspects were arrested after having been found to be in possession of more than four kilograms of cocaine.

Detectives Patrick R. Creamer and Sarkis Zeitountzian

Their investigation in 2003-2004 led to one of the largest seizures of heroin in Rhode Island. Creamer and Sarkis investigated an operation that was moving heroin from Florida to Providence, and they discovered six kilograms of heroin hidden in a compartment that was opened and closed by a hydraulic mechanism in the suspect’s vehicle. The suspect, Jacinto Garcia, is serving a 16-year federal prison sentence and the drugs were removed from the streets, the awards committee said.

COMMISSIONER’S AWARD

Patrolman Jonathan A. Kantorski

Assigned to the West End, Kantorski was responsible for solving several robberies. The police focus on reducing crime as well as the fear of crime and disorder, and robberies are a priority. On June 26, 2005, he monitored a police radio broadcast about two robberies, obtained a description of the suspect and made the apprehension.

On Oct. 14, 2005, Kantorski came to the assistance of a robbery victim, obtained information about a vehicle involved in the incident, spotted the vehicle and arrested a suspect.

On Aug. 29, 2005, he saw a vehicle that had just been involved in a robbery at gunpoint. The vehicle was halted and the suspect was apprehended.

HUMANITARIAN AWARD

Sgt. Tabatha Glavin

Glavin has selflessly given her time and effort, according to the awards committee, by volunteering for numerous projects.

Glavin has been an integral part of the Camp Phoenix program, bringing together Providence children and police officers for a one-week overnight camp experience. She started a mentor program, spending hours of her own time guiding children and was involved in the Power Lunch reading program, reading to children.

She has coordinated several blood drives in the department in recent years and volunteered in the Big Sisters program by raising money and serving as a big sister for two years. In August, she spent her second summer vacation building homes with Habitat for Humanity in the Gulf Coast area in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

Glavin is a member of the department peer support team, lending assistance to her fellow officers.

CITIZENS AWARD

Michael Crugnale

On the night that Detective James L. Allen was murdered at police headquarters, April 17, 2005, Crugnale was working as a cab driver and heard about the shooting through his dispatcher. Crugnale was later sent downtown to pick up a fare who was asking for a ride out of state. Knowing that something was not right about the call, he acted. Crugnale got out of his cab and conveyed the crucial information about the call to a nearby police officer, ultimately leading to the capture of the fare, Esteban Carpio, who had murdered Allen.

Peggy Lo

From June through September 2005, Providence was plagued with a string of robberies of small stores. At these scenes, no physical evidence was left, but descriptions of the robber led to the preparation of a composite sketch of a suspect. Street informants and interviews of prisoners provided no information about the robber’s identity. A large number of fliers were distributed and leads were exhausted, and by mid-July every bureau in the department had become actively engaged in the hunt for the suspect who became known as the Good-Looking Bandit.

On Sept. 9, 2005, a man entered a store called Figments, at 717 Westminster St., and met Peggy Lo. Lo recognized the suspect from the fliers, and as he attempted to rob her store, she pushed the cash register onto the floor. The suspect fled and she was able to provide a description of his vehicle and license plate. He was apprehended shortly thereafter. Thanks to Lo, according to the awards committee, the bandit, identified as Stephen Celico, was charged with 13 robberies.

Jody Bartolini and Daniel Salas

While working as parking valets at the Providence Biltmore hotel on Dec. 8, 2005, Bartolini and Salas saw a man knock a woman to the ground and steal her purse. With disregard for their safety, the awards committee said, they ran after the suspect. The chase continued into Kennedy Plaza, where they notified a police officer. They assisted the officer in apprehending the suspect, and the purse, with its contents, was returned to the victim. The suspect was charged with robbery.