Several Bristol police officers received awards and accommodations at the Oct. 21 Board of Police Commissioners regular meeting.
Officer Suzanne Howard received an Exceptional Service Accommodation and an Officer of the Month Award for exceptional contributions to the progress of the Bristol Police Department
Bristol police officers Dustin DeMonte and Brian Jones received a Letter of Commendation and Officer of the Month Awards for outstanding work performance above the normal course of duty that is an example to all employees, placing the Bristol Police Department in a positive light.
Bristol police officers, acting sergeant Matthew Moskowitz, Nicholas DeFazio, Kevin Monahan, Lang Mussen, Robert Osborne and Nicholas Voghel received letters of commendation for outstanding work performance above the normal course of duty that is an example to all other employees, placing the Bristol Police Department in a positive light.
Howard has been a member of the Bristol Police Department since December 1987. The award narrative explained: “She is an outstanding officer that exemplifies the values, beliefs and mission of the Bristol Police Department… As Sue was closing in on her 26th anniversary with the department, she was diagnosed with a life threatening medical issue-Breast Cancer. Sue did not disclose this to any of her co-workers and continued to work in the professional manner we all come to expect from her. She worked right up to the time her doctor scheduled her for surgery. In fact, other than informing the command staff of her need for time off… Sue was out of work for several months as she had major surgery, chemotherapy and radiation treatments…. In early April 2014 Sue met with Chief Grimaldi and expressed her desire to return to work at the Bristol Police Department… She requested to return in a ‘light duty’ position. Sue was then assigned to the Criminal Investigations Division to assist in processing pistol permits… Sue learned the duties of her new assignment quickly. She identified flaws in the process and brought forth solutions to the problems… During her short time in CID… Howard has forever changed the way pistol permits are processed.
The award narrative explained, for DeMonte and Jones, “On Aug. 5, Officer Dustin DeMonte and Officer Brian Jones were assigned to the walking beat in the West End… The officers were able to utilize elements of the park ordinance to identify a violation that led to the discovery of 150 bags of heroin, a large sum of cash and some marijuana. The suspect was subsequently arrested for several drug violations including sales charges. The Bristol Police Department promotes Community Policing as one of its main tenets in combating crime in the City of Bristol. Officer DeMonte and Officer Jones exemplify the Community Policing model and have proven that this is a sound and effective approach to addressing crime and quality of life issues in an identified problem oriented area.”
The award narrative for Moskowitz, DeFazio, Monahan, Mussen, Osborne, and Voghel said: “On Aug. 30, (the cited officers) responded to a distraught, suicidal party in a multi-family home on Queen Street. The information from dispatch was that a male subject had attempted suicide by pointing a shot gun at his chest and pulled the trigger. The gun did not fire. Upon arrival, Acting Sergeant Moskowitz deployed his officers efficiently and assumed Incident Command. Pertinent information was obtained and safety measures were put in place for nearby residents and attempts to contact the suicidal subject commenced. The subject responded by opening the front door. He soon emerged holding a shot gun. Officer Osborne verbally engaged the subject and was able to get the suicidal subject to drop his shot gun off the second floor porch to the ground below. The subject then retreated into his home. Officer Osborne was able to maintain verbal negotiations with the subject resulting in the subject returning to the second floor porch. During this encounter, Officer Monahan and Officer Voghel provided cover to Officer Osborne, ensuring his safety while he engaged the suicidal subject. At that time Officer DeFazio and Officer Mussen entered the multi-family home from the back and made their way to the second floor apartment where the subject was. They were able to maneuver through the apartment undetected while Officer Osborne kept the subject engaged on the front porch. Officer DeFazio and Officer Mussen were able to then take the subject into protective custody without incident.”
