Russian-speaking officers who helped after 9 / 11

Operations after the 9 / 11 attacks involved police, fire and other services. Stories of two Russian-speaking officers provided Russian American Officers Association.

FBI Inspector Vadim Thomas

Vadim Thomas (center).
Photo: Twitter

Inspector Vadim Thomas was born in Odessa, Ukraine, and came to the United States as a refugee when he was 9 years old. He grew up in the Bronx, where he studied at a public school. Vadim embodied the dream of his childhood in 1995, becoming a special FBI agent.

After graduating from the FBI Academy in December 1995, Thomas was assigned to the New York office of the Bureau for distribution and took part in the investigation into the case of Russian organized crime at RICO Enterprise.

As an agent, he participated in the Bratta Brigade case, in which 4 revealed murders, including the murder of boxer Sergey Kobozev, world heavyweight champion and former Soviet Olympian.

In the case of the Bratta Brigade, more than 130 serious crimes were discovered and 22 members were sentenced to members of an organized criminal group.

During the tragic events of 11 September 2001, Vadim took part in emergency operations on Ground Zero, and also worked in the morgue in Manhattan, investigating the remains of victims for evidence and identification.

Thomas was promoted to Senior Special Agent of the FBI Headquarters in August 2002, when he became the head of the national and international investigations of the FBI against Cosa Nostra and Albanian organized crime.

In January, 2005 was appointed chief of the team, which in the New York office of the FBI dealt with drug cases and rapist groups. During his time in New York, Thomas led a team investigating gangs, unconventional organized crime, and emerging cyber crime.

In January, 2009 was promoted to the position of Assistant Inspector at the FBI Headquarters - he took over the inspection of the FBI's field offices (all 56 units) for the use of fire on special agents and FBI operatives, and conducted special investigations.

In February 2010, Thomas volunteered to serve in Afghanistan, where he led a team of local Afghan and European police officers investigating public sector corruption.

After returning from Afghanistan, Thomas returned to an investigation of cyber crimes in New York. In August, 2013 was promoted to deputy security officer for the unit in Albany, where he headed all criminal investigations and office management. In this position, Thomas conducted a successful operation to find two young sisters who had been stolen by sex maniacs from their farm in St. Lawrence, New York. The children were found and returned home unharmed, and the suspects were arrested.

In November 2014, Thomas took the post of inspector and moved to the FBI Headquarters. He is one of the 8 Bureau inspectors. Thomas was awarded various FBI awards: for his actions in the North Tower of the World Trade Center 11 in September, for his participation in the operation in Afghanistan, and also for the FBI Directors for his success at his posts in Albany, New York.

Thomas graduated from the University of Notre Dame (Bachelor’s Degree), Tufts University (Master’s Degree in International Law and Diplomacy) and the US Naval College (Master’s Degree in International Security and Strategy), raises his daughter Rowan and son Wyeth.

President of the Association of Officers - Russian Americans Michael Belogorodsky

Mikhail Belogorodsky.
Photos from personal archive

Michael Belogorodsky came to the United States when he was 11 years old. At the age of 12, Michael began to help his family - he got a job as a packer at the checkout in a supermarket. In high school, he graduated from the rescue courses, and for some time he held the relevant position - he saved four children on the water.

After school, Michael studied at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice and became a cadet of the New York Police as a paid practice.

Michael was the founder and vice-president of the student club, a member of the student board of the College and a judge of the High Court of the College. After graduating with a red diploma and honors, Michael joined the Police Academy, where he also served as a company officer.

After graduating from the Academy, he was assigned to 60 District, where he proudly helped many residents, including members of his native immigrant community.

In February, 2010 was temporarily assigned to the operational search division of 60 District, and in June, 2010 was appointed Assistant Intelligence Officer. In March, 2012-th Michael was promoted to the rank of sergeant and transferred to 84 district. In July, 2013 was transferred to the Internal Security Bureau.

Michael was rewarded for public work in the New York City Police, he was twice called the “cop of the month”, received 14 police medals and many public medals. He was also awarded such awards: Brooklyn Borough President's Achievement Citation, Human Values ​​Award from the Art of Living Foundation, and was also included in the Encyclopedia of Russian Americans. In 2014, Michael was nominated for the national title of Person of the Year - Russian American.

Mikhail Belogorodsky and New York Police Commissioner William Bratton. Photos from the personal archive

Some time after joining the Association of Officers-Russian Americans, while still a student at the Police Academy, Michael became a member of its executive body and was appointed secretary.

Two years later, in the fall of 2008, Michael was elected President of the Association. Having accepted this position, Michael began to implement the new vision of the Association. He transformed it into a professional and holistic organization, which was officially recognized by the New York City Police Department.

Michael is an American Red Cross volunteer at Ground Zero. He is married to Biana, with whom they bring up 3-year-old daughter Emma and 7-month-old son Samuel.

Read also on ForumDaily:

“I’m still waiting for my son ...”: stories of mothers who lost their children on September 11

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15 years later: 10 facts about the 9 / 11 attacks

Russian cops of New York: how to become a policeman of the most famous department in the world

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