Honors for our
fallen heroes

By Diane Prokop
Times Staff Writer

Gina Valentino never knew her father.
The 17-year-old was born one week after her father, Officer Albert A. Valentino, was killed in the line of duty on Oct. 23, 1989.
He was 37 and a 12-year veteran of the Philadelphia Police Department when he was shot twice by a man he and another officer were trying to question on Frankford Avenue.
Valentino was one of three 15th Police District officers remembered in last week’s dedication of a marble plaque in the district’s roll-call room.
Also honored were Officer Henry Hicks, who was 39 when he was killed in the line of duty on Christmas Eve 1946, and Officer Gary Skerski, who was 46 when he was shot and killed in May 2006 while responding to a robbery in progress at a Northwood bar. Solomon Montgomery is charged with the slaying and awaits trial.
The plaque is in the shape of a police badge, engraved with the image of a police officer holding a child. Above it reads, OUR FALLEN HEROES. The officers’ names are engraved on the memorial, which is flanked by plaques with pictures of the officers.
Reading about his father in the dedication booklet gave Albert Valentino goosebumps.
"I was only eight, my brother was seven. She wasn’t even born yet. It helps my memories. The biggest thing, though, is it puts her in the position to have her own memories," Albert Valentino said, pointing to his sister Gina, who was wearing a small silver police badge on a chain around her neck.
His sister, who resembles her father, agreed.
"He’s my hero," she said.
Albert Valentino called his sister "our little mile marker."
"My mother said to me earlier that it’s hard to believe it’s been seventeen years. I told her all you have to do is look in Gina’s eyes to know how long it’s been," he said.
Mayfair resident Richard Hicks was also on hand for the dedication honoring his father.
"To renew all this stuff is really wonderful. The effect it has on the officers and [my father’s] grandchildren and great grandchildren — they know they have this hero in the family," Hicks said.
Hicks lost two brothers within the last five years — his father’s namesake Henry in 2005 and his brother James in 2001.
"I’m going on seventy and I think of [my father] every day. I’m always nine years old. It’s pretty primal stuff," a misty-eyed Hicks said.
When 15th district community relations officer Gary Skerski was killed last year, it all came back to Hicks.
"I wondered if I should call, what should I say. I decided not to. It’s too much trauma. Nobody can tell you how to go through it," he said.
The officers’ extended police family was also well represented for the dedication. Also on hand for the ceremony were Police Commissioner Sylvester Johnson; Deputy Commissioner Patricia Giorgio-Fox; Inspector John Heath; Capt. Frank Bachmayer, who presided over the dedication ceremony; and officers from the 15th district and 2nd district, who share the Harbison Avenue and Levick Street headquarters.
The memorial plaque and dedication were the idea of 15th district officers who wanted to remember their brothers.
Officer Jennifer King worked closely with Skerski.
According to King, Officer George Lochner made contact with Frankie Matz of Liberty Granite and Marble Inc., who donated the marble, cut it into a police emblem and installed it on the wall. The entire district paid for the engraving. Five squad had donated the plaques for Skerski and Hicks. A plaque for Valentino had previously been donated by his Police Academy class.
"This will make sure that nobody forgets Gary, Henry Hicks and Albert Valentino," King said.
The Rev. Joseph Campellone, president of Father Judge High School, prayed for the fallen officers, "who acted justly and gave of their lives for us."
"Bless the souls of these officers, who gave themselves for justice, love and peace," he said.
Food for the post-ceremony reception was donated by Wawa. ••
Reporter Diane Prokop can be reached at 215-354-3036 or dprokop@phillynews.com