The week beginning May 13th is National Law Enforcement Memorial Week.  It is the tradition of the Londonderry Police Department to especially recognize employees for their efforts through the prior calendar year during this week.  Though during the year we often will recognize special efforts of commendation, merit or valor immediately after they’ve happened, this week is of special meaning to police.   The Police Memorial Week affords the Londonderry Police Department an opportunity to say thank you to those employees who have done an outstanding job in the eyes of their peers throughout the year, as well as those employees who have, by their professionalism, their courage, training and human decency, done an outstanding job in law enforcement.

The Sworn Officer of the Year 2006 is Detective Donald LaDuke.  Detective LaDuke (right), pictured here with Chief of Police Joseph Ryan, works as the Juvenile Officer for the Londonderry Police Department and has for about a year.  In that capacity he has demonstrated a strong work ethic, a deep sympathy for the kids that he works with, and understanding of the families that he deals with and a strong working relationships with his external peers such as the Juvenile Probation Office and the Derry District Court.

The Civilian Employee of the Year 2006 is Janice Butler.  This is Janice’s second consecutive award and her third award overall.  Janice is one of the most valuable employees of the Londonderry Police Department.  She gives the highest of professionalism at all times to her peers and to the members of the public who she deals with.  All of us who work at the Londonderry Police Department say thank you for her efforts and good nature.

A number of awards were given out as Letters of Commendation.  A Letter of Commendation is given under the Department Policies and Procedures (A-124) to department personnel who perform their duty in an exemplary manner.  Included among these things are routine duties handled in an above average manner or a community service related to the mission of the police department that brings credit upon the officer or the department. Letters of Commendation were awarded to the following officers:

A  Letter of Commendation was given to officers involved in the Field Training Program.  Four (4) officers were selected.  From left to right; Officer, now Sergeant, Jason Breen, Officer, now Sergeant, Mark Morrison, Officer Matt Laquerre, and Officer, now Sergeant, Ryan Kearney (not pictured here), were all recognized for outstanding efforts in training the new hires who came aboard by virtue of this agency taking over the airport law enforcement contract.

A Letter of Commendation was also given to Officer  Mike Corl whose attention to detail while on patrol at the airport prevented a potentially dangerous situation from escalating.  His observation of a gas truck left unattended near one of the airport runways and his expedient, appropriate and professional action following up on that incident prevented what may have been a potentially dangerous issue.

A Letter of Commendation was also given to officers for outstanding police work in apprehending a dangerous fugitive from justice.  Londonderry Police Department was informed that a fugitive from justice was at large in Londonderry.  He was a Commonwealth of Kentucky resident who, while there, had engaged in assaultive behavior on citizens and had been charged  with Assault and Battery with a Deadly Weapon Upon Police Officers.

The officers working pursuant to a plan, using their training, common sense and high level of professionalism were able to apprehend this potentially dangerous subject without incident, without harm to anyone and with a minimum of disruption to the day-to-day activities of the citizens of our community.  The Londonderry Police Department awarded Letters of Commendation to (from left to right) Officer Patrick Cheetham, Officer Kelly Kulig, Officer Ron Randall, Detective Don LaDuke, Detective Glenn Aprile, Sergeant Tim Jones, Detective SergeantBob Michaud, and Sergeant Ryan Kearney (not pictured here).

A Letter of Commendation was also given to Officer now Detective Adam Dyer (left) for outstanding police work in making a serious drug arrest.  This officer’s observations which coupled with his experience and training led to the arrest of a serious drug trafficker in our community represented outstanding effort in looking beyond the traffic ticket. Detective Dyer is pictured here with Captain William Hart of the Londonderry Police Department.

A Letter of Commendation was also given to Sergeant Chris Gandia for his outstanding work in managing our Firearms Training Program. Officer Gandia looking at the program as a whole made alterations which saved the community money in overtime cost and at the same time enhanced our ability to complete those necessary and important training requirements.  This was an outstanding effort put forward by a supervisor maximizing the resources available to him in order to complete the task assigned.

The Detective Division was en masse awarded a Commendation Bar for Distinguished Unit Action which is awarded to officers for an outstanding effort which resulted from teamwork as a unit.  These officers were awarded that commendation bar based on their efforts in doing over one hundred (100) backgrounds on prospective employees in less than nine (9) months while maintaining their on-going caseloads.

Those Detectives awarded this bar are (from left to right) Detective Sergeant Bob Michaud (2nd award), Detective now Sergeant Mike McCutcheon, Detective Glenn Aprile, Detective Don LaDuke and Officer Mike Corl (not pictured here).

Two officers were given the Commendation Bar for Meritorious or Honorable Service which is awarded to officers and employees for acts of intelligence and valuable police service which demonstrates a special faithfulness or perseverance towards effecting an especially important arrest or who manages an especially important project.  Officer, now Sergeant, Jason  Breen (left) and Officer Garrett Malloy were directed to a scene in the south of town where a subject who was armed with a knife and suicidal had barricaded himself in his bathroom.

Drawing upon their training at the New Hampshire Police Academy and the Field Training Program outlined for the Londonderry Police Department these two officers while being threatened with a deadly weapon were able to calmly and professionally take the subject into custody without harm to him or themselves.  While a review of the facts indicates that they would have been entirely justified in using force up to and including deadly force to effect this arrest, these officers used their professionalism, their common sense and their training to get this disturbed person the help that he needed.  We recognize their courage in dealing with a difficult situation and their human decency and sympathy for this man.

Five of our newest officers were recognized and honored at these proceedings. They are (from left to right) Officers Daniel Perry, George Mottram, Jonathan King, Christopher Olsen, and Andre Uy.

On behalf of all the employees of the Londonderry Police Department I would like to thank these officers and those civilian employees and sworn officers who every day demonstrate their professionalism and dedication to the Town of Londonderry without seeking award or recognition.  As a citizen, and as the Chief Executive Officer of this agency, please accept my heartfelt thanks.

Joseph E. Ryan

Chief of Police