PAX Centurion - March / April 2015

www.bppa.org PAX CENTURION • March/April 2015 • Page 29 Congratulations to Commissioner Commendation Recipients Officers Luis Lopes & Jeremiah O’Brien: At about 6:30pm, on October 6, 2014, officers responded to a call for a person shot in the area of the Ashmont MBTA Train Station. The victim was transported to the Boston Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries. While conducting a search of the nearby area for a suspect, Officers Lopes and O’Brien soon observed and located an individual known to them through previous encounters and, more specifically, an arrest for the Unlawful Pos- session of a Firearm. In light of such, officers tactfully approached the suspect to better understand why he was in the area of the earlier shooting. While talking to the suspect, a description of the suspect wanted in connec- tion to the earlier shooting was broadcast over the police radio. For officer safety, a pat frisk of the suspect was conducted. When no weapon was found, officers then conducted a search of the immediate area for the weapon. In short time, officers located a loaded firearm lying on the ground in close proximity to the suspect. The suspect was arrested and charged with Assault with Intent to Murder. Thanks to their quick and strategic response and the effective apprehension of a violent repeat felon, Officer Lopes and O’Brien are hereby awarded a Commissioner’s Commendation. Congratulations to Commissioner Commendation Recipients Officers James Gauvin & Kato Francis: At about 2:00 pm, on September 24, 2014, while responding to a bank robbery at the Mt. Washington Bank in South Boston, officers Gauvin & Francis were able to quickly identify and, after a violent struggle, ap- prehend the suspect responsible for the robbery. Officers Gauvin & Francis are assigned as walking beat/ bike officers in the Southampton Street Corridor. Thanks to their speedy response, swift capture of the suspect and recovery of the money stolen from the bank, Officers Gauvin & Francis are hereby awarded a Commissioner’s Commendation. Congratulations to Commissioner Commenda- tion Recipients Officers Steven Horne & Robert Lucas: On Tuesday, September 9, 2014, the Andrew Square Convenience Store was robbed by a male suspect who, during the course of the robbery, threatened the store employee with a hypodermic needle. The suspect escaped with over seven hundred dollars. The next day, September 10, 2014, while en route to a community meet- ing, Captain Greland and Officer Horne were discussing the robbery when they observed an individual matching the description of the suspect standing outside the Stop and Shop. Upon seeing the suspect, with assistance from a nearby detail officer, Officer Robert Lucas, they approached the suspect and took him into custody. A search of the suspect enabled officers to locate and seize two hypodermic needles. The suspect later admitted to the robberies and stated he would have continued had he not been apprehended. For their keen observations and effective apprehension of a dangerous felon, Captain Greland, Officer Steven Horne & Officer Bobby Lucas are hereby awarded a Commissioner’s Commendation. Thursday, August 28, 2014, a Commissioner’s Commendation was awarded to Dispatcher Natasha Gumbs-Levarity for her actions in the following incident: While assigned to the Computer Assisted Dispatch System Development Team over the past year, Ms. Gumbs-Levarity has demonstrated an incredible commitment to her job and has provided an invaluable service. With Ms. Gumbs- Levarity’s assistance, the Boston Police Department has been able to develop a computer assisted dispatch system that will allow officers to further assist the residents of the city. For her professionalism and devotion to this critical undertaking, we thank Ms. Gumbs-Levarity for her service. Orchestrating the Safe & Successful Return of a 4 Year-old Girl to her Mother Merits Commissioner Commendations for Sgt. Detective Charles Daly & Detective Joseph Trodella - On Saturday, August 8, 2014, officers from District A-7 (East Boston) responded to a call for a missing child. On arrival, officers spoke to the child’s mother who stated that she had fallen asleep and, when she awoke, she discovered that her 4 year-old daughter was gone. Officers promptly broadcast a description of the child over the police radio and a search of the area was immediately initiated. While speaking to the mother, officers learned that she had recently terminated a relationship with a boyfriend who had threatened her and her child. According to the mother, the ex-boyfriend (who lives in New York) told her that, if she ever left him, he would take her daughter. Upon hearing this, officers promptly contacted authorities in New York to notify them about the suspect, his intentions and his vehicle description. While officers were still on scene, the ex-boyfriend called the mother on her cell phone. Detective Trodella asked the mother if he could speak to the suspect. During the phone conversation, the suspect admitted to having taken the child. Hearing this, Detective Trodella appealed to and encouraged the suspect that for the safety and well-being of all involved he should turn himself in. Moments later, the suspect did just that turning himself in to authorities in New York. The child, who was asleep in the back seat of the car, was found unharmed and in good health. For the level of professionalism and proficiency displayed while conducting the negotiations which lead to the safe and successful return of a 4 year-old child to her mother, Sgt. Detective Daly and Detective Trodella are to be recognized, commended and accordingly awarded Commissioner’s Commendations.