AVON — Chief Jeffrey Bukunt is pleased to announce that seven members of the Avon Police Department received Meritorious Service Awards last week for going above and beyond the call of duty.
On Thursday, March 17, Sgt. Glenn Fernald, Officers Michael Dombrosky and Jeffrey Donovan, Dispatcher Jannell Webb, Officer Chris Guillaume and Dispatcher Robert Burke were awarded the department’s life-saving award, while Officer Stephen Stenstrom was presented with an outstanding performance award.
“These awards represent the significant roles these members play in our department,” Chief Bukunt said. “We’re all immensely proud of their efforts to both support the community day-to-day and respond thoughtfully and effectively when seconds count during critical incidents.”
Life-Saving Award:
Dispatcher Webb, Officer Dombrosky, Sgt. Fernald and Officer Donovan received life-saving awards for their actions during an incident on Feb. 2.
Dispatcher Webb received a call about an individual making suicidal statements; the caller could not provide an exact address for the person in distress. Dispatcher Webb went through records and databases and contacted several individuals to quickly ascertain the location of the individual, allowing first responders to arrive at the scene shortly after the call came in.
Sgt. Fernald, Officer Dombrosky and Officer Donovan were able to locate the individual after using Dispatcher Webb’s information and identifying a voice from within an apartment making suicidal statements. The three first responders were able to make entry and successfully intervene and de-escalate the incident.
All four Avon Police employees were instrumental in saving the individual’s life and were commended for their professionalism, aptitude, skill set and dedication to the community.
Outstanding Performance Award:
Officer Stenstrom received the department’s outstanding performance award for his proactive policing, work ethic and profound and positive impact in the community.
Officer Stenstrom works with a focus on the broader underlying forces at work that may be driving crime and disorder. In addition, his high visibility enforcement of traffic safety laws has positively impacted roadway safety by reducing dangerous driving behaviors.
The Avon Police Department would like to thank Officer Stenstrom for his exemplary performance, initiative and work ethic.
Life-Saving Award:
On March 7, Dispatcher Burke, Officer Donovan and Officer Guillaume responded to an emergency medical call that resulted in a life being saved.
Dispatcher Burke quickly recognized the severity of the situation and immediately began providing emergency medical instructions to the distraught caller, while keeping her calm and engaged in preliminary medical attention.
Officers arrived on the scene and assessed that the victim was not breathing and did not have a pulse. Officers Guillaume and Donovan then quickly began performing CPR while fire and EMS personnel were en route. Following protocols, officers administered NARCAN but the individual remained non-responsive. The officers continued implementing life-saving measures until the fire department arrived and the victim was revived.
Officers Donovan and Guillaume and Dispatcher Burke’s life-saving timely response helped the victim to survive the incident.
“These first responders’ deep commitment to serving their community was on display during these moments, among many others, and I want to thank them for their significant efforts on behalf of our community,” Avon Board of Selectman Chairman Eric Beckerman said.
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