MILFORD – Nearly 50 first responders were honored on Thursday by Worcester County District Attorney Joseph Early for their life-saving actions this summer locating and rescuing a man found trapped under a vehicle.
On July 17, Milford police received a call from the Hopedale Police Department asking for assistance to find a missing 60-year-old male resident who hadn’t returned home and was last seen on the afternoon of July 16.
Police searched several areas in Hopedale and authorities pinged the man’s cellphone which placed him near the quarries around Walden Woods and I-495 in Milford.
Authorities were able to contact a satellite radio service and obtain coordinates for the man’s vehicle. Searchers located the man’s Jeep, which was overturned. The man was trapped and hurt, but he was conscious and alert. He was freed and transported to an area hospital.
“I really appreciate the dedication of my officers, dispatchers and all of the first responders involved because none of them gave up that day,” Milford Police Chief James Falvey said. “The collective knowledge of all the rescuers helped find this man and save him.”
The first responders responsible for the coordinated search and rescue were presented with the District Attorney’s Team Excellence and Merit – TEAM Award.
“When this call came in, there was one goal, and it was a goal shared across everyone involved; to find this man and get him back home to his family,” Early said. “It is only fitting this group of dedicated first-responders receive the TEAM Award because every aspect of this rescue and response embodied teamwork.”
The TEAM Award recipients are:
Milford Police Department:
Milford Police Chief James Falvey; Deputy Police Chief Robert Tusino; Sgt. Joseph Rizoli; Officer Jeanne Van Patten-Steiger; Officer Jacob Campbell, Officer Crystal Gallagher; Officer Jonathan Branch; Officer Michael Johnson; K-9 Officer Brian Sanchioni; Drone Officer James Woodward; Dispatcher Amanda Gresian; Dispatcher Jonathan Schuman; Dispatcher Lisa Trusas; and Dispatcher Jason Covino
Milford Fire Department:
Fire Chief Mark Nelson; Lt. Steven Gies; FF/EMT-P Chris Alt; FF/EMT Christopher Tuttle; FF/EMT Luis Gomes; FF/EMT Cody Caffrey; FF/EMT Brian Keefe; and FF/EMT James Hayes
Hopkinton Fire Department:
Fire Chief William R. Miller; Deputy Fire Chief Gary Daugherty; Lt. John Sheridan; Lt. John Krauss; FF/Medic Allyson Gaudette; FF/EMT Travis Metcalf; FF/EMT Pat Gross; and FF/Medic Pat Rahill
Hopkinton Police Department:
Officer Jessica Ferriera; Sgt. Aaron O’Neil; Officer Basit Dennis; Dispatcher Kiley Davis; and Dispatcher Benjamin Campbell
Fire District 14 Tech Rescue Members:
Hopkinton Fire Lt. Scott Jurasek; Southborough Fire Lt. Ken Franks; Ashland Fire Lt. Matt Boland; Milford Fire Lt. Scott Keefe; Framingham Fire Lt. Tom Rinaldo; Natick Fire Captain Andy Hladick; Westborough Fire FF/Medic Barry Sullivan; Natick Fire FF/Medic Chris Wozny; and Wayland Fire FF/Medic Mitch Mabardy
Community EMS:
Jeffrey Tye and Robert Mahoney
Lead image courtesy: Worcester County District Attorney’s Office
