Hornell police officers received awards from the city for saving lives

After witnessing a fatal four-car crash on the outskirts of Auburn last month, an off-duty Hornell police officer quickly stepped in to help the victims and secured the chaotic scene.

Officer Trevor Stiles and four other Hornell officers were honored with the department’s Lifesaving Award on Thursday.

The Hornell Police Department said Stiles was traveling through the town of Aurelius in Cayuga County on May 10 when a tractor-trailer collided with an SUV at the intersection of State Routes 5 and 20 around 1:30 p.m.

According to Stiles, who was the first law enforcement officer to arrive on the scene, the force of the impact threw the SUV into two sedans.

In a written statement Thursday to the city’s Board of Public Safety, Stiles said: “I immediately stopped the vehicle, jumped out and rendered aid. I directed several other civilians to organize traffic control and then immediately went to assist the driver of the SUV.”

With all the doors closed and all the windows rolled down, Stiles gained access to the driver of the SUV by climbing through the vehicle’s sunroof. Stiles said the man was unresponsive and couldn’t detect a pulse.

Stiles said the victim, identified by New York State Police as Anthony J. Carnevale, 74, of Auburn, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Stiles said he questioned the tractor-trailer driver to ensure the rig was not carrying hazardous materials. There was no. It was empty.

With these assurances, Stiles helped the driver of the sedan out of the vehicle, using the front passenger door to help her escape.

When local law enforcement arrived on the scene, Stiles identified himself as an off-duty police officer and informed Cayuga County Sheriff’s Office officers of what he saw and what actions he took, he added.

As he prepared to leave the scene, Stiles noticed that he had broken glass on his hands and chest.

New York State Police reported that two other people involved in the crash were hospitalized at nearby hospitals for minor injuries.

Mayor John Buckley on Thursday praised Stiles for “assuring himself in a helpful and useful way” during a critical life-and-death situation.

“Officer, it’s a great job in terms of personal time, being in the right place at the right time,” Buckley added.

Stiles, a Maple City resident, joined the Hornell Police Department in 2023.

Lifesaving award given to five Hornell police officers

Stiles wasn’t the only Hornell police officer to receive recognition at the Board of Public Safety meeting.

Hornell Police Capt. Michael Sexsmith, Sgt. Todd Giglio and Patrolmen JR Emo, Ian Hamilton and Stiles received a Lifesaving Award from police “for their quick and effective actions” on March 15, 2024, at Hornell’s apartment when they were confronted by a man armed with a knife and holding a victim he had already stabbed and threatened to kill him.

“Officers, acting as a team and ignoring the risk to themselves, entered the residence and neutralized the threat of an individual armed with a knife using minimal, less-than-lethal force,” said Police Chief Ted Murray. “Then they immediately took up the matter. the victim who locked herself in the bedroom.”

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