Wakefield Detectives Honored With State Law Enforcement Award

WAKEFIELD, MA — Two Wakefield police detectives received the highest honor available to state law enforcement personnel this week just under two years after an incident during a response in January of 2021.

Detectives Christopher Grace and John Ryan received medals of honor at the annual George L. Hanna Memorial Awards for Bravery on Tuesday in Worcester, Wakefield Police announced on Wednesday.

Grace and Ryan were part of a police response following the death of a woman later identified as Pamela Wood, a speech and language pathologist at Wakefield’s Greenwood Elementary School and Doyle Early Childhood Center.

READ: 'Vibrant' Speech Pathologist Remembered By Wakefield Schools

Grace and Ryan were helping first responding officers search Wood’s home when a suspect, identified as Timothy Martin, charged at officers with a knife while verbally threatening officers, according to police.

“Fearing for their immediate safety and the safety of others, Detective Ryan and Detective Grace fired their Department-issued firearms,” police said this week.

A review by the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office later cleared Grace and Ryan in the shooting of Martin, finding the detectives were reasonable in their use of force, given the circumstances.

Martin, Wood’s son, survived the incident and was charged with murder in connection with Wood’s death. A jury trial in Middlesex Superior Court in the case is scheduled to begin in January of 2023, according to state court records.

“I am extremely proud of Detective Grace and Detective Ryan for their poise and professionalism even as their lives were in danger,” Wakefield Police Chief Steven Skory said in his department’s announcement of honors for Grace and Ryan this week. “Their unwavering commitment to the safety of our community does not go unnoticed.”

“These men showcased bravery and professionalism during a high-pressure situation that placed both their lives and the lives of fellow officers in danger,” Skory said.

The Medal of Honor goes to officers who “demonstrate actions above and beyond the call of duty, exhibiting extraordinary bravery and courage, while disregarding the potential for danger or great risk to themselves during the course of an individual incident,” as noted by Wakefield Police.

It is named for George L. Hanna, a state trooper who died in the line of duty in 1983.

Grace and Ryan were among 32 law enforcement officials honored this week at this year’s George Hanna event in Worcester.

State leaders including Gov. Charlie Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito were in attendance.