News Release
September 7, 2005

Albany District Office Dedicated to the Memory of New York State Police Investigator Joseph T. Aversa

On Tuesday September 7, 2005 the new Albany District Office was officially dedicated to the memory of New York State Police Investigator Joseph T. Aversa who was killed in the line of duty while assigned to the DEA Drug Enforcement Task Force in Manhattan, New York on March 5, 1990.

Investigator Aversa was born on November 6, 1958 to Vincent Sr. and Doris Aversa in Brooklyn, New York. He graduated from Port Jervis High School, Port Jervis, New York and Orange County Community College, Middletown, New York where he was awarded an Associates Degree in 1978.

On March 12, 1984 he was appointed to the New York State Police and upon graduation from the New York State Police Academy on he was assigned to Troop F, Middletown, New York. During his career, Investigator Aversa received several letters of commendation for his service to the citizens of New York State.

On October 12, 1989, he was promoted to Investigator, Bureau of Criminal Investigation, and was assigned to the DEA Drug Enforcement Task Force, (NYDETF). The NYDETF is the oldest and most prestigious drug task force in the United States and is comprised of DEA Special Agents, New York State Police Investigators, and New York City Police Department Detectives under one unified command structure shared by the three participating agencies. The DETF has a long and remarkable history of having dismantled some of the largest criminal drug syndicates in the world.

On March 5, 1990, Investigator Aversa was conducting surveillance of undercover negotiations during a cocaine investigation when the drug dealers fired at the undercover officer. Investigator Aversa led other task force members to the scene and was fatally wounded during an exchange of gunfire with the traffickers. Two other task force members were also injured in this incident. Investigator Aversa was posthumously awarded the New York State Police Award of Valor for his action on March 5, 1990. He is survived by his wife, Eileen, parents, and his brother Vincent Jr.

The sacrifice of Investigator Aversa and the loss suffered by his family, friends, loved ones, as well as his brothers and sisters in law enforcement can never be assuaged by the dedication of a building. However, his sacrifice and the lossmust never be forgotten but should live on in the memories of those who loved him, knew him, and worked with him. Itshould also be remembered by others who pass through these doors in Albany as they endeavor to keep the greatstateof New York and the United States safe from the predators who seek to destroy the souls others throughi llicit drugs.

The Albany District Office is the focal point for the DEA’s upstate operations and is responsible for coordinating enforcement operations conducted in the region from Ulster County in the south, north to the Canadian border bordering Massachusetts and Vermont to the east and west to Buffalo and bordering Pennsylvania in the southern tier. Resident Office operations in Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse and Plattsburgh are coordinated by the Assistant Special Agent in Charge at the Albany District Office that is staffed by one DEA enforcement group and one task force group. Additional enhancements to the Albany District Office in 2005 include a Special Agent Pilot and aircraft based at the Albany Airport and two Diversion Investigators responsible for regulatory and compliance matters regarding the manufacture, distribution, dispensing by prescription as well as the wholesale and retail sale of licit controlled substances.

(L-R) Front Row
Eileen Famina (wife), Mrs. Vincent Aversa (mother), SAC Gilbride
(L-R) Back Row
S/A Arp, AO Socrates Lecakes, Superintendent Wayne Bennett (NYSP