North Andover PD's Nicholas Wasczcuk Gets Officer Of The Year Award

NORTH ANDOVER, MA — North Andover Police Department Officer Nick Wasczcuk was one of the recipients of the annual Police/Firefighter/EMT of the Year Award from the Exchange Club of Lawrence and the Andovers earlier this month.

The Local Heroes Awards, which were handed out at a March 1 event in Andover, recognize local public safety personnel from the police and fire departments of Andover, Lawrence and North Andover for their honor, bravery and professionalism.

According to a North Andover PD spokesperson, Wasczcuk was chosen for the award by North Andover Police Chief Charles Gray and the department's command staff.

Gray said he selected Wasczcuk because of the officer's actions on Feb. 6, 2022.

According to an award nomination form, at approximately 6:08 a.m. that morning, Wasczcuk observed a vehicle fail to stop at a red light at the intersection of Sutton Street and Osgood Street. So, the officer initiated a motor vehicle stop.

During the stop, Wasczcuk learned from dispatch that the vehicle had been reported stolen.

As Wasczcuk was placing the operator of the vehicle under arrest, the officer noticed a firearm concealed on the suspect.

At that point, North Andover PD Officers Timothy Houston and Tyler Thomas and Sergeant Sean Daley arrived at the scene as backup.

All the occupants were removed from the vehicle and each was searched.

According to accounts of the incident, Wasczcuk and the three backup officers recovered a total of four firearms, loaded magazines and packages of methamphetamine and cocaine. The subjects also had outstanding arrest warrants.

"Officer Wasczuk's actions and the actions of his backup units demonstrated remarkable police work," Gray said in a statement. "While motor vehicle enforcement is considered routine and normal, circumstances such as these arrests show the danger inherent in 'routine' events, and what really great police work can produce."