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NRLO
"Homepage" of
Deputy Joseph
"Joe" Fiorentino
COOK COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT
Chicago, IL
This page is hosted by Heidi
Fiorentino
Photographs and
information provided by Deputy Joseph Fiorentino and his wife
Heidi.
____________________________________________________
Martial Arts
and
Grappling Champion
Inducted into
"The United States
Martial Arts
Hall of Fame"
Check back
soon for self-defense training tips from Deputy Joe
Fiorentino. Deputy Fiorentino strongly
emphasizes, "Mixed Martial Arts, Submission Grappling, and
Jiu-Jitsu are sports with rules, time periods, and officials
governing the action. They should not be confused with the
real life combat situations that Law Enforcement Officers face every
day."
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INDEX:
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About Deputy
Joe Fiorentino
A 12-year,
full-time veteran of the Cook County Sheriff's Department, NRLO
Member Deputy Joe Fiorentino carries out his External
Operations Unit duties transporting and watching prisoners
while they're at the hospital. Not surprisingly, Joe has found
that his special skills as a Black Belt; training and fighting Mixed
Martial Arts, Pankration, and Grappling Tournaments; and being
a Certified Defensive Tactics Instructor have come in very
handy. He says that most of the prisoners are not combative;
but then there are those few who need to be "grappled." Having to fight and
grapple in tournaments translates very well when he finds that he
needs to use takedowns or arm locks to subdue an uruly, combative
prisoner. For instance, recently there was one unruly
prisoner who didn't know just who he was dealing with when he
tried to throw a punch at Joe. Joe calmly says,
"I applied an o-soto-gari takedown and was
able to handcuff the suspect."
Deputy
Fiorentino strongly emphasizes, "Mixed
Martial Arts, Submission Grappling, and Jiu-Jitsu are sports with
rules, time periods, and officials governing the action. They
should not be confused with the real life combat situations that Law
Enforcement Officers face every day."  
Joe has been training in martial arts since 1977,
starting with Judo. He said he was hooked immediately and soon
became extremely proficient in Judo throws and
takedowns.
Photo above:
Joe fighting bare
knuckle
Joe winning NAGA in 2006
in his first MMA win in Chicago in
1998.
Joe trained in many
styles and accumulated many awardsand champtionships. Deputy
Fiorentino won his first extreme martial arts fight in Chicago in
1998.
Joe has gone on to win Pankration (unarmed, competitive
martial arts going back 3,000 years), Mixed Martial Arts
(MMA), and Grappling Tournaments with his lovely wife Heidi by
his side.
Since 1983, Joe has been training and is
a Black Belt at Shidokan Chicago under Shihan Eddie
Yoshimura. "Shihan Eddie" as he is referred to by
his students, is the highest ranking Shidokan practioner outside of
Japan. Shihan Eddie currently holds the rank of 8th Dan
(Degree), which he was awarded from SHIDOKAN Founder / Grandmaster
Kancho Yoshiji SOENO in December, 2005. He is the president of
the U.S. Shidokan Association. 
A native of
Chicago, Joseph "Joe" Fiorentino has been a dedicated Deputy for the
Cook County Sheriff's Department since 1997. He is also a proud
Italian American born in Chicago whose descends from Sicilian
and Barese descent. His family settled in the Italian
Neighborhood near Grand Avenue and Halstead in Chicago. He grew
up there with his sister Rita and brother Michael where his family
and relatives would have big Italian Dinners on the
weekends. Some of his relatives still call it home.
Deputy Fiorentino is a member of the Italian American Police Association of
Illinois (Joe also holds a seat on the Board of
Directors and will be inducted into The Italian American
National Hall of Fame on May 1, 2010, in New Jersey), NIAF, OSIA, and Metropolitan Alliance of Police.
Photo right:
Deputy Joe Fiorentino and wife Heidi at the Italian American Police
Association Dinner and Dance on November 14, 2009, when Joe was
honored to be chosen for a seat on the Italian American Police
Association Board of Directors.
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Joe winning at the
Midwest Jiu-Jitsu Tournament
in 2007
Deputy Fiorentino says
that practicing with great fighters like Shonie Carter, Marcus
Dee, and Kevin Little have made him the champion he is. Winning over 50 fights, Joe is an 8-time NAGA North American Grappling Champion and a
3-time Midwest Jiu-Jitsu Tournament Heavyweight
Champion.
Joe and Heidi
Fiorentino posing with UFC Fighter Shonie
Carter. 
At the Arnold Grappling Championships with
Governor Arnold in attendance, Joe beat a formerly
unbeaten fighter who was 90 pounds heavier at 308 pounds in the
Heavyweight Division Finals.
2008 Arnold Grappling Championships in Ohio with Governor
Arnold in attendance.
In 2008, Deputy
Fiorentino became the North American Grappling (NAGA)
Midwest Champion and today is the #1 Ranked Director Division
Grappler in the Nation.
Joe with NAGA
Championship Belt for winning the 2008 NAGA Midwest Grappling
Championship.
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Joe Wins
Again!
2009 "Director Advance
Heavyweight Division NAGA Indiana Grappling
Champsionship"
1st Place, September 19,
2009
Winning a Samurai sword, Cook
County, IL, Deputy Joe Fiorentino won "1st
Place Diretor Advance Heavywieight Division" at
the "2009 NAGA Indiana Grappling
Champsionships" on September 19. Congratulations, Joe!
(Photo left) Joe
holding the Samurai Sword he won for "1st Place Director Advance
Heavyweight Division" at the "NAGA Indiana Grappling Champsionship
2009" on September 19. (Photo right and below:) Joe usually
has 2 to 3 fights at NAGA tournaments, but at NAGA Indiana Joe
had one fight. Joe is shown fighting Jeff
Clymer.
(Photo
left): Group photo of winners at the 2009 NAGA Indiana. In the
center is teacher and trainer Sensei Duane
Sharp who coached all five winners from the Chicago
Shidokan school.(top): Kenner, Angus, Joe (bottom): Radolpho, Sensei
Sharp, Matt)
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2009
"NAGA Europa World Grappling Championships" in Dallas,
Texas
"1st Place Director Expert Division"
August 15, 2009 
Cook County, Illinois, Deputy
Joe Fiorentino has won "1st
Place Director Expert
Division" at the "2009 NAGA
Europa World Grappling Championships" held in Dallas on
Saturday, August 15, 2009. That's Europa WORLD
Grappling Championship, folks.
CONGRATULATIONS, JOE!
NRLO joins with the rest of the country in saluting
Cook County, IL, Sheriff's Deputy Joe Fiorentino on this great
championship win..
Joe holding the 2009
Champsionship Belt for winning "1st Place Director Expert Division"
at the "NAGA Europa World Grappling Championships," August 15,
2009.
Joe's wife Heidi
proudly posing with Joe holding the 2009 Europa World Grappling
Championship Belt - Lookin' good, Heidi! Congratulations,
Joe!
Photo right: 2009 -
Joe with NAGA Vice President Joe Cuff.
Photo left: 2007 - Joe with NAGA
President Kipp Kollar.
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INDEX
MORE PHOTO OPS 
Joe and Heidi
posing with UFC Champion Frank Mir. 
Joe and Heidi with
Frank Dux (Bloodsport). 
Joe training with
Frank Dux.
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INDEX
INDUCTION INTO THE UNITED STATES MARTIAL ARTS HALL OF
FAME
Photo left to right: Professor Marty Cale,
President of the U.S. Martial Arts Hall of
Fame; Heidi Fiorentino (Joe's biggest
fan) and Deputy Joe Fiorentino. Deputy Fiorentino is
a Martial Arts and Grappling Champion and was inducted into "The
United States Martial Arts Hall of Fame" on August 1, 2009, in
Nashville, Tennessee.
Sensei Duane
Sharp (center) and Deputy Joe
Fiorentino (holding his U.S. Martial Arts Hall of Fame plaque)
taking a photo op during teaching the Shidokan MMA
Class.
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INDEX
Induction into Roosevelt
High School
Sports Hall of Fame
Joe attended
Roosevelt High School where he was an "All-City Football Player" and
received a footbal scholarship to the University of
Evansville. Joe is a member of the "Roosevelt High School Sports Hall
of Fame." Photo left: School
Trophy. Photo right: Deputy Fiorentino and his wife Heidi
enjoying the festivities at Joe's induction to the school's
Sports Hall of Fame in May, 2009.
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INDEX
Deputy Fiorentino Receives
"Certificate as a
Defensive Tactics Instructor"
Along with 9
other Officers, Joe trained three days with the Combative Defense
Instructors and he received a Certificate as a Defensive
Tactics Instructor.
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INDEX
Volunteerism to Fellow Cook County Officers
and Community
Clubs and Schools 
Besides being a
full-time Cook County Deputy and being in continuous training for
tournaments, Joe Fiorentino volunteers between 100 - 200 hours
a year teaching self defense to fellow Officers and to the
Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts. He has a long history of giving of his time and
money to people in need. Joe said, "I
use my Martial Arts skills to teach Self Defense to Boy Scouts, Cub
Scouts, and fellow Officers alongside and with the help of Sensei Duane Sharp."
Photo of Sensei Duane Sharp (back, left) and Deputy Joe Fiorentino during a
teaching session for the Cub
Scouts. 
Deputy Joe Fiorentino (far right) was
honored to volunteeer and teach some grappling to fellow Officers
and retired Officers at the Takeo-Ryu Dojo under Sensei Ken Keith (Center in blue shirt).
It was Joe's first time at their Dojo. Sensei Ken Keith is a
5th Degree Black Belt in Takeo-Ryu and has been training
martial arts for 64 years. He also speaks Japanese.
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December,
2009
Cook
County Deputy Joe Fiorentino and
Sensei Duane Sharp Teach Self
Defense to
Cub Scouts 3250, Den 4 in Chicago
Deputy Joe Fiorentino and
Sensei Duane Sharp volunteered their time to teach self defense to
Chicago Cub Scouts Pack 3250, Den 4. 
Thanks goes out to Bob Whitfield (right) for helping to
set up the training for Chicago Cub Scouts Pack 3250, Den 4.
Bob is the father of Cub Scout Russel pictured with Joe
(left) and Sensei Sharp (center). 
Following are
more photos from the self-defense training
session.
NRLO Web Author Note: Thanks to you, Deputy Fiorentino and Sensei
Sharp, for volunteering your time and expertise to the youth of
America.
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INDEX
November 2, 2009
Deputy Joe Fiorentino and Sensei Duane Sharp
Teach Self
Defense to
Chicago Cub Scout Pack 79
Group Photo:
MMA/Grappling Champion
Joe Fiorentino (right back row) and
Sensei Duane Sharp
(center)
with Cub Scout Pack 79
Joe Fiorentino and
Sensei Duane Sharp give demonstrations of Self Defense to Chicago
area Cub Scout Pack 79.
Self Defense
Tactics being taught and demonstrated on members of Cub Scout Pack
79.
Sensei Sharp teaching Cub Scout a self defense
grip as Deputy Joe Fiorentino and other Cubs look
on. 
Cub Scouts
practice what they've learned from MMA/Grappling Champion Joe
Fiorentino and Sensei Duane Sharp.
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INDEX
Italian Historical Society of
America
"Joe and Heidi
Fiorentino receive Certificate of
Appreciation"
Congratulations,
Joe and Heidi, on the Italian Heritage "Certificate of Appreciation"
received from the Italian Historical Society of
America (http://www.italianhistorical.org)
recognizing your endeavors and accomplishments which have
contributed to the advancement and inspiration of
humankind.
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INDEX
Deputy
Joe Fiorentino Receives Commandeation and Medallion from the United
States Deputy Sheriff's Association
December,
2009  
Deputy Joseph Fiorentino (photo right) displays
the Commendation and Medallion he received in December,
2009, from the United States Deputy Sheriff's
Association. Pictured with Joe are his two nephews Axel Conrad
and Kit Conrad who are both Police Explorers. Kit
(center) is a senior at Wisconsin Dells High School in
Wisconsin and ranked 2nd in the state in Wrestling 285 Lb
Weight Class. Last year Kit placed 6th in
state.
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to INDEX
October
29, 2009
Chicago Principal For A Day
Cook County Deputy and
MMA/Grappling Champion Joe Fiorentino
Invited by Mayor
Richard M. Daley, President Michael Scott of the Chicago Board of
Education,
and by Chief Executive Officer Ron Huberman
of
Chicago Public Schools to be the
"2009
Principal for a Day" at Peterson Elementary
School 
Cook County
Deputy Joseph Fiorentino was honored by the Chicago Public Schools
as "Principal for a Day 2009". This is an
annual event, and Joe was chosen to participate as a Judo expert by
the Peterson Elementary School which also has it's own Judo Team
instructed by 2nd Degree Black Belt, Sensei
Dave (pictured at left of photo). The school's
principal, Daniel Lucas, also holds a 2nd Degree Black Belt in
Judo.
The
morning started off at the school where Joe made his first
official decision that there would be no homework that day.
Joe had the opportunity to meet and talk with the students
and with Principal Daniel Lucas who holds a
2nd Degree Black Belt in Judo. Joe watched the
Peterson Judo Team do an amazing and skillful
demonstration.
Photo right - Group
photo of Peterson Elementary Judo Team. (Back row left-right:)
Principal Daniel Lucas, Sensei Ken
Keith of the Takeo-Ryu Dojo in
Chicago, Deputy Joe Fiorentiono, and Sensei Dave who is the
team's instructor.
Joe and Sensei
Ken Keith were treated to a skillful demonstration from the Peterson
Elementary Judo Team instructed by Sensei Dave who holds a 2nd
Degree Black Belt in Judo.
There was a luncheon reception
at the Hilton Towers hosted by Mayor
Richard M.Daley. To learn more about the
"Chicago Principal For a Day
Program" go to www.chicagopfad.org. The luncheon had about 1,700 people in
attendance.
Photo right:
Joe Fiorentino and Mayor Richard M. Daley at the luncheon for
Chicago 2009 Principal for a Day Program
Deputy Joe Fiorentino and
Sensei Ken Keith (of the Takeo-Ryu Dojo in Chicago) will be
returning to the Chicago Peterson Elementary school to help
"sponsor" and to voluntarily give Judo "demonstrations" to the
Peterson Elementary Judo Team. Sensei Ken Keith is a 5th Degree Black Belt in Takeo-Ryu and
has been training martial arts for 64 years. He also speaks
Japanese. Joe sometimes trains at his Dojo.
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ABOUT SENSEI
DUANE SHARP
Sensei Duane
Sharp has trained and coached Joe Fiorentino and many
other fighters to victory in tournaments. He has trained fighters for MMA, Jiu-Jitsu, Submission Grappling,
Boxing, Kickboxing, and Bare-Knuckle Karate
competitions.
Sensei Duane Sharp is a 1st Dan in Shidokan
Karate under Shihan Eddie Yoshimura
of the U.S. Honbu and a Blue Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under
Sensei Pedro Vianna of Brazilian Top Team. Duane teaches Mixed
Martial Arts and Grappling at Shidokan's Chicago school, and he has
volunteered much of his time for the last six years. His
students include Law Enforcement Officers from the Chicago Police
Department, Cook County Sheriff's Department, and other
agencies. Plus, he and his top student, Deputy Joe Fiorentino,
give much of their time to teach self defense and grappling seminars
for Chicago area Boy Scouts and Cub
Scouts.
Duane Sharp was born in
Kansas City, MO, on October 24, 1964. He began training in
boxing at the age of ten. Duane's amateur boxing record was 45
wins - 14 losses.
Duane has never been stopped
or knocked out in competition. He won the 2006 NAGA Illinois Director Heavyweight GI
Jiu-Jitsu Championship. He has won at P.K.A. style
kickboxing fighting in the Weekend War Kickboxing promotion in
Chicago. 
(Both
Photos): Sensei
Duane Sharp fighting at the Shidokan Fight Night on April 3, 2008,
in Chicago. Sensei Sharp won in a Jiu-Jitsu GI
fight.
Sensei Sharp has
trained fighters for MMA, Jiu-Jitsu, Submission Grappling, Boxing,
Kickboxing, and Bare-Knuckle Karate competitions. He has
trained extensively with UFC veterans Shonie Carter and Brian
Gassaway along with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belts Pedro Vianna and
Andre Negao Terencio. Duane has also trained with John
Machado, Pedro Cavalho, Ray Lavato, Sr., Shogun and Ninja Rua, and
Jens Pulver.
Sensei Duane Sharp has been
nominated for induction into the "U.S. Martial Arts Hall of
Fame" by 2009 U.S. Martial Arts Hall of
Famer, Cook County Deputy Joe
Fiorentino. Joe informed them of Sharp's
qualifications in many different categories. Sharp has
over 30 years of Boxing and Martial Arts experience. He
is a Kickboxing, Boxing, and Grappling Champion. An excellent
Instructor, his classes are always the biggest and best run at
Shidokan Chicago. He is also a volunteer
instructor to young Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts - some of
whom will become future Martial Artists. He has trained
and coached Cook County Deputy Joe Fiorentino, and many other
fighters to victory in tournaments.
Sharp has also served as fight
choreographer for the films "Palooka" and "The
Minx" and for theatre companies Trap Door and
Hearthstone. Duane has also performed stunts in hundreds of TV
commercials including spots for the Chicago Wolves, Milwaukee Bucks,
Shoney's Restaurants, and for the Indiana Secretary of State's
Anti-Fraud Program.
In 2009, Duane had a small
part in the movie "Public Enemies" starring Johnny Depp.
Web Author Note: Sensei Duane
Sharp was nominated by Joe Fiorentino and was presented with NRLO's
"2009 Distinguished Citizen Award" for his many
volunteer hours in training self defense to Cook County
Law Enforcement Officers and to community clubs. Thank you,
Sensei Sharp, for all you do in giving back to your community.
NRLO and its Members across the nation salute you.
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Recent Training and Upcoming
Fights/Events
Next
fight: April 24, 2010 - NAGA Chicago
Joe will be a referee at the
Midwest Jiu Jitsu Tournament o March 27, 2010
Joe will be inducted into the
Italian American National Hall of Fame in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
The 35th Annual Induction and Awards Ceremony wil be held on
Saturday, May 1, 2010.
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INDEX
Deputy Joe Fiorentino
Receives
2008 President's Volunteer Service Award 
Nominated by Tony Langone, President of the Italian American Police Association, NRLO is proud to have been Joe
Fiorentino's "Certifying Organization" and instrumental in
Deputy Fiorentino receiving the prestigious "President's
Volunteer Service Award" (Gold -
signed by President Obama). Heidi and Joe proudly hold the
award. Joe has the highly coveted lapel pin on his
shirt. Over the years, Joe has volunteered between 100-200
hours a year in teaching self defense to fellow Officers and to
community clubs, Boy Scouts, and Cub Scouts. He is also a member of
the "Neighborhood Watch." Joe donates to many charities
including Feed the Children, 100 Club of
Chicago, Easter Seals, American Red Cross, and
more.
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INDEX
Deputy Joe
Fiorentino Receives
NRLO's "2009 Outstanding Volunteer
Service Award" 
NRLO was proud to present its
'2009 Outstanding Volunteer Service
Award' to Full-Time Deputy Joseph
"Joe" Fiorentino of the Cook County, IL, Sheriff's Department
. In his 12 year history of dedication to the Cook County
Sheriff's Department, Joe has given many hundreds of volunteer hours
in giving self defense classes to his fellow Law Enforcement
Officers and to community clubs such as the Boy Scouts and Cub
Scouts. NRLO Salutes You, Deputy Fiorentino. He is
pictured here with his devoted, proud, and number one fan,
Heidi.
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INDEX
Letters of
Endorsement and Acknowledgement
NRLO and its Members congratulate Deputy Joe
Fiorentino on his accomplishments
Letter of Congratulations from Cook County Sheriff Thomas J.
Dart
February 19,
2009
Dear D/S Fiorentino: Congratulations on a job
well done. I received the article you sent regarding your
recent win in the North American Grappling Championship and your 1st
place standing nationwide. This is quite an
accomplishment. I am sure the skills and maneuvers you have
learned have come in handy more than once with your
work.
I know that finding time to
participate in such events is difficult, but please know that your
hard work and determination have not gone unnoticed. Keep up
the good work.
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INDEX
Letter of Nomination for the "President's
Volunteer Service Award"
April 8, 2009,
from President Tony Langone, Italian American Police
Association
Dear NRLO Awards: I am the
President of the Italian American Police Association of
Illinois. I am writing this letter of endorsement for the
nomination of Joe Fiorentino for the President's Volunteer Service
Award.
The main purpose of the
Association is to promote friendship, cooperation, unified and
concerted action among its members for their common benefit,
upholding and enforcing the laws of our municipal state and federal
governments, and to further the preservation of and adherence to the
Constitution of the United States of America. It is to promote
education, training, and exchange of knowledge and information in
the field of law enforcement, and to promote and improve the image
and stature of Americans of Italian origin engaged in law
enforcement to elevate the dignity of, and encourage the furtherance
of, professional achievement in men and women of Italian origin in
law enforcement.
Joe Fiorentino is a member
of our Association and has been for over ten years and has lived
diligently to our purpose. He is a member that helped make our
association very successful. Joe is a Cook County Law
Enforcement Officer who also trains at Shidokan Chicago. When
he's not working, he's grappling in tournaments or coaching
others. He is truly a role model for his peers and his
students he trains.
Please consider Joe
Firentino as he well deserves such an honor as a President's
Volunteer Service Award. Thank you for your time and
consideration.
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Illinois
Governor Pat Quinn
March 30, 2009
Dear Mr. Fiorentino: Thank you for
keeping Illinois Streets safe and for your willingness to help
others and for your dedication to Law Enforcement. We need
more Officers like you. I wish you the best in your future
endeavors.
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INDEX 
First in
Line!
Cook County Deputy Sheriff
Joe Fiorentino was first in line to donate blood at the Lifesource
Chicagoland's Blood Center Donor Coach for their 2009 Blood Drive in
Lyons, IL, on September 4, 2009.
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The
Village of Lyons, IL
Proclamation Award
Certificate Presented to
Cook County Deputy Joseph
Fiorentino
September
15, 2009
On September 15, 2009, the
President and Village Board of The Village of Lyons recognize and
celebrate the achievements of Cook County Deputy Joe
Fiorentino. They extended their sincerest thanks for the many
contributions of Deputy Fiorentino to the community. Village
President Christopher Getty is in the photograph above presenting
Joe with his Proclamation Award Certificate at The Village of Lyons
Hall.
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INDEX
Check
back soon for a self-defense training article from Deputy Joe
Fiorentino. | 
