People’s Advocate: Reservist makes difference one role at a time

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Andria Allmond
  • 512th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  The animated 35-year-old speaks with the bravado of Donnie Brasco, but with a hint of fatherly concern. With military bearing, his tone indicates the counsel he delivers goes far beyond what the average person may expect from an individual wearing the somber seams of a police uniform. 

If anyone has a grasp on multi-tasking, it is Tech. Sgt. Thomas Ragonese. Sergeant Ragonese is a Wilmington police officer, an Air Force reservist, a children's mental health advocate, and a family man. He integrates these roles in order to help people. 

The Police Officer
Corporal Ragonese remembers following the remarkable stories of the city police officers on the news.
 
"There was a cop named Paul Ragonese in the 1980s who was known for saving people," he recalled. "I don't know if he was of any relation. But, I do know he was one of the reasons I wanted to become a cop." 

The desire to help people prompted nine years with the Wilmington Police Department. He patrols over 14 square miles riddled with regions of desperation, broken spirits and empty eyes of the drug-addicted, homeless and poverty-stricken, and never strays far from his reason for being a police officer. 

"Helping people is the reason he is a police officer," his wife Lydia said. 

Corporal Ragonese said being an effective social worker is the key to being a good police officer. 

The Advocate
"Parents call the police up, at their wits end and don't know what to do, thinking that us locking their child up is going to be the solution; it's not" said the corporal after advising the despairing family of a 13-year-old crack addict. 

The New York native saw first-hand the difficulties families face while attempting to get help through the children's mental health system. His youngest brother is stricken with autism, and the Ragonese family worked together to get his brother help by attending countless meetings and doctors appointments for his brother's care. His family created the Delaware Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health in 2003. Ragonese served as President of the Board of Directors for four years. 

"When [society] talks about kids who have mental health problems and how [law enforcement] treats them, they do bad things, they get arrested. The thing is, when they get arrested, it hinders or disqualifies some of the assistance or treatment they may get because they are labeled as a criminal and not a kid who has a mental health problem," the corporal explained from experiences he has seen while working for the federation. 

The child's advocate said that he takes this knowledge about mental illness into consideration when dealing with children or adolescents engaging in criminal activity.
He tries to offer information to families about the various resources available to help those in their family. His desire to help and serve goes even beyond his roles as a police officer and children's mental health advocate; he also serves his country as an Air Force reservist. 

The Reservist
At 17-years-old, a young, ambitious Tom Ragonese was going to serve his country like the men in his family had done before him. He was going to join the Marine Corps. 

"I had to have a parent sign for me," he said. "My Dad, who had served in the Army, wanted me to join the Air Force, and I just wanted to get into the military," said Tech. Sgt. Ragonese, who also has a bachelor's degree in criminal justice. 

That military has worked well for Tech. Sgt. Ragonese who has spent the last 17 years as a servicemember: seven years in the active-duty Air Force, three years in the Army National Guard and currently as an Air Force reservist. He is part of the 512th Operations Group here. He's an aircraft communication navigation system journeyman, works as a communications systems specialists, as well as taking on the role of the "First Shirt." 

"Many times, I have observed him working all day at the UTA or on a weekday in the office or in the hangar and then go work a midnight shift as a police officer in Wilmington," said Maj. Russell Carlisle, the commander of the 512th Airlift Control Flight. "I tell him I'm worried about him working so much. He smiles and says, 'I'll be OK, boss.' I realized later that he was doubling up so he could spend all of the next day with his family without any distractions." 

The Family Man
"He's good at his job, both the Air Force and with the police department," said Lydia Ragonese, his high school sweetheart, subtly smiling with pride. "He's a great father.
"He may be a little rough around the edges, coming from [New York}," she said. Tom and Lydia have a 5-year old daughter, Melissa, and an 8-year-old son Daniel. "But, this is a guy who will get on my children's level and have tea parties with his daughter." 

Mrs. Ragonese explained her first impression of her husband when he picked her up for a date. 

"[Her neighborhood in New York] was not the kind of area that would be safe for a white kid from an Italian neighborhood; there was a lot of racial problems going on at that time. Then I saw him pull up, park his car, walk down the street and I thought, 'This guy has a lot of courage.'" 

Sergeant Ragonese's many responsibilities does have an impact on his family, but nothing negative in his children's eyes. 

"Daddy plays outside with me almost everyday," said Melissa, a recent beauty pageant winner. She said she wishes for even more time to spend with her father. The sergeant also volunteered as a teacher's aid during his son's first year in school. 

Technical sergeant, police officer, advocate, husband and father are the roles held by a man who's committed to making the world a better place by helping the people around him. While the balancing act may be difficult, said Sergeant Ragonese's wife, with the love of his family and commitment to doing what is right, he will continue to make a difference.