Wenham Police Officers Receive First Responder Awards

Left to right: Town Administrator Peter Lombardi, Wenham Police Chief Thomas Perkins, Wenham Selectmen John Clemenzi, Reserve Officer Mia Cefalo, Reserve Officer Lawrence Nestor, Officer William Carney, Detective Shane Kavanagh, Sgt. Jonathan Gray, Capt. Kevin DiNapoli, Wenham Selectmen Jack Wilhelm and Selectmen Catherine Harrison.

WENHAM— Members of the Wenham Police Department received First Responder Recognition Awards for their life-saving efforts.

On Aug. 22, members of the Board of Selectmen recognized Sgt. Jonathan Gray, Detective Shane Kavanagh, Officer William Carney, Reserve Officer Lawrence Nestor and Reserve Officer Mia Cefalo for helping to save a life.
Earlier this year, the Municipal Police Training Committee also recognized officers during the fifth annual First Responder Recognition Awards Program, which honors officers who, while on duty or off, went above and beyond their law enforcement duties to help a citizen or a member of their agency in need of medical attention. Recipients of the award demonstrated that their CPR/First Responder training helped save a life.
In October 2016, there was a report of a naked man wandering around Route 1 in Topsfield. After conducting a search of the area, Topsfield Officer David Castellarin was unable to locate the man, who he learned had diabetes.

Given the man’s medical condition and that the temperature was about 35 degrees, Officer Castellarin requested the assistance of the Wenham and Danvers Police Departments.
Sgt. Gray, Officer Kavanaugh, Officer Carney, Officer Nestor and Officer Cefalo from Wenham responded to the scene, along with Danvers K-9 Officer Justin Ellenton and K-9 Stryker.
Following an extensive search of the area, police were able to locate the man, who was wearing only a t-shirt and was unresponsive. The man was transported by ambulance to a local hospital, where he later recovered.
“If it wasn’t for the efforts and cooperation of multiple agencies and the extensive search, this individual would have succumbed to his medical condition and hypothermia,” Chief Thomas Perkins said in a statement, “Congratulations to all involved. Their recognition is well deserved.”

Photo courtesy of the Wenham Police Department