Free Giveaway to Help Town Honor Murdered Chief

Karen Anderson wanted to do something to remember Greenland Police Chief Michael Maloney on April 12, the one-year anniversary of the Greenland shootings that took his life.

This week she came up with an idea that would allow members of the community, town officials and people throughout the Seacoast region to come together and honor the police chief who gave his life to protect the town he loved.

Anderson said she unveiled a Thin Blue Line ribbon during Monday night's Greenland selectmen's meeting that she is now giving to town residents and visitors for free.

"We promised that we will never forget the chief," she said in her office on Tuesday morning.

Anderson is making the ribbons herself and spending her own money to create them. She has made 150 of the ribbons so far and hopes to make more than 1,000 ribbons before April 12. She said she will go to the town's transfer station to hand them out to residents.

Overall, she believes that inviting people to wear the ribbons and come together for a special moment of silence in front of the Greenland Police station on April 12 represents a tasteful way to help people remember Maloney.

"I think this is a great way to remember the chief," said Anderson as she looked at a photograph of him across from her desk. "We still miss him."

Anderson said she knows that remembering the tragic events of April 12, 2012, when Maloney was killed and four other police officers were wounded during a drug raid at the home of Cullen Mutrie on 517 Post Road, will be very hard for many people. Authorities say Mutrie ran an extensive drug trafficking operation out of his home with his ex-girlfriend, Brittany Tibbetts.

When Maloney and other police officers with the New Hampshire Drug Task Force attempted to serve an arrest warrant, authorities say Mutrie opened fire on them. Following a lengthy standoff with police, Mutrie then shot and killed Tibbetts before turning the gun on himself.

"We want to be able to reflect individually without trying to put on a big ceremony because it will be a difficult day for all of us," Anderson said.

Greenland Police Chief Tara Laurent, who said a week ago she wasn't sure if her department would do any special remembrances for Maloney on April 12, said Tuesday she is very pleased the town has decided to go with the ribbons and the moment of silence an hour before the talent show at the Greenland Central School at 6 p.m. A portion of the proceeds from the talent show will be donated to the Greenland Police Department to help Laurent and her police officers travel to Washington, D.C., to see Maloney's name added to the National Law Enforcement Memorial in May.

Laurent said the anniversary is very painful from many members of her department, but she is glad the town will do something to honor Maloney on April 12. "We understand that there are many people here in town and the area that want to do something on that day," she said.