Bedford Police Officers Honored For Saving 3 Lives

BEDFORD, NH — Several Bedford police officers and support staff were honored during the department's annual awards ceremony Tuesday. Officer Patrick Gilligan was recognized for administering Narcan to an individual who overdosed in June, according to Chief John Bryfonski. Officer Tony Ssonko was also recognized for his actions on two consecutive days earlier this month.

On Dec. 1, Ssonko responded to Rollingswood Road after a man suffered a medical emergency and went unconscious. Ssonko performed CPR for several minutes and resuscitated the man, who survived, according to Bryfonski. The next day, Ssonko talked down a suicidal woman at the Plummer Road overpass bridge. SSonko was presented with the department's Lifesaving Award.

"I'm proud of all of the work our officers and staff members did this year, which helped save lives and keep our entire community safe," Bryfonski said in a statement.

The department's communications staff, Records Clerk Monique Pliakos, Sgts. Jessica Humphrey and Devon Kimball and Officers Matthew Proulx, Timothy Carter and Patrick Gilligan were also honored during the ceremony. And the department welcomed its newest officer — Whitney Mansfield — who was sworn in and will be attended the next New Hampshire Police Academy class in January. She previously worked as a reserve officer in Lunenberg, Massachusetts.

From left to right: Bedford police Communications Specialists Ray Menier, Ed Higgens, Joanna Umenhofer, Nina Malley and Nate Byron.

Lead photo, from left to right: Lt. Michael Griswold, Lt. Michael R. Bernard, Chief John Bryfonski, Officer Whitney Mansfield, Deputy Chief Daniel Douidi and Capt. Scott Plumer. (Credit: Bedford Police Department)