James Milana, 40 under 40

James T. Milana

Lieutenant, Syracuse Police Department, New York

Known for his tireless work ethic and “can-do” attitude, LIEUTENANT JAMES MILANA has consistently gone above and beyond expectations at the Syracuse Police Department (SPD). Aside from working for a time as the acting captain for the Southwest District, he’s served as the liaison to the 911 Center and as the NYS Liquor Authority liaison. In 2020, he spearheaded a successful project to realign the department’s patrol territories, which required collaborating with all ranks from the almost 500-member department, the Crime Analysis Unit, and agencies like the 911 Center and County Information Technology.

Another triumphant effort that showed his strong leadership and commitment was revamping the efforts SPD made in recognizing officer achievements. Seeing a dip in department morale during one of the more challenging times in law enforcement, Lt. Milana helped to successfully develop and implement a new Commendation/ Medals Committee, which regularly reviews recommendations in a prompt and timely fashion to ensure officers are recognized for their hard work. He also helped originate their annual Pink Shield October and No Shave November fundraiser programs that increased officer morale and created countless positive interactions with the public.

As a leader, he’s expanded his role into teaching and developing police officers; creating new department systems and policies; and supervised several committees and units. Lt. Milana received numerous accolades for his service and heroism throughout his career including departmental commendations, Chief’s Achievement Medal, and the New York State Medal of Valor, and he was the 2018.

“I chose to enter a law enforcement career because I wanted to be an advocate for those who could not stand up for themselves.”

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