Merrimack Recognizes Employees for Decades of Service

The Merrimack Town Council recognized a handful of town employees at their last meeting of the year for their years of service to the town.

Among those recognized were:

Master Firefighter David Joki, Merrimack Fire Department (30 years)

David Joki, who retired last week after 30 years of service in the Merrimack Fire Department, was described by Capt. Scott Simpson as a someone who has constantly kept ahead of the learning curve as firefighting and the duties of the department have changed over the years.

Joki started with the department as a probationary firefighter on Christmas Day in 1983 and through the years has helped lead the department, Simpson said. Joki earned an associates degree in fire science during his tenure in the department and also the title of hazardous materials technician.

He has also been a volunteer firefighter in Brookline for 27 years, serving there as a lieutenant and captain.

“As senior man on C-Shift, David served as informal leader helping train our new hires. He’s served as a mentor and a role model to the rest of us,” Simpson said.

Capt. Michael Dudash, Merrimack Police Department (30 years) 

Capt. Mike Dudash was hired in 1981 by the department as a part time officer and animal control officer. He was sworn in as a full time officer in April 1983, achieved rank of detective in September 1986, sergeant in January 1988, lieutenant in January 1995 and captain in January 2007. Dudash is the commander of the support services division and has previously served as commander of detective division, commander of patrol and operations division, department police prosecutor and as a field training officer.

Over the years he has earned his life saving award, meritorious service award, exceptional service award, the department’s police officer of the year in 1985 and has had near perfect attendance for 30 years.

“On behalf of everybody at the Merrimack police department congratulations and thank you for you 30 years of continued, dedicated and selfless service to the community of Merrimack. We really appreciate it,” Police Chief Mark Doyle said.

School Resource Officer Michael Murray, Merrimack Police Department (25 years)

Officer Michael Murray started as a dispatcher with the Merrimack Police Department in September of 1985, he became a special officer in May of 1987, was appointed as a full-time officer in September 1988 and as school resource officer in 2000.

“Mike Murray is regarded as, by not only his colleagues here at the police department, by many others throughout the state as the finest resource officer in the state. He really has set the standard. He’s set the bar very high,” Doyle said.

Murray was named the department’s police officer of the year in 2000, received the department’s distinguished unit award and has been heavily involved over the years with the Special Olympics and serves as a torch run leg leader.

“It’s really his passion,” Doyle said of the Special Olympics, “and he has been someone who I have looked up to as one who gives selflessly of himself and by doing so is and has become an example by which other officers, again not only here at the police department, but throughout the state, aspire to follow.” 

Detective Scott Park, Merrimack Police Department (25 years)

Detective Scott Park joined the Merrimack Police Department in August of 1986 and was sworn in as a full-time officer in January of 1988. He was assigned to his currently assigned position as detective and investigator in January of 2000 and regarded as one of the lead and most veteran investigators in the criminal investigation bureau.

“As Mike Dudash said earlier he is probably one of the most premiere investigators in the state,” Doyle said.

Doyle said h e acts as a liaison to state police and attorney general’s when he has cases to bring before them for review and he teaches at the department’s Citizen’s Academy.

Park won the department’s police officer of year award in 1998 and has also earned the distinguished unit award and the meritorious service award.

“I really appreciate all the support that you’ve given me and I know that the folks that you work with appreciate all the support and friendship that you’ve given them,” Doyle said. “Scott, congratulations on achieving your 25 years of dedicated service to the Merrimack community and thank you for being my close friend.”

Also recognized, who were unable to be at the ceremony were: Catherine F. Nadeau, with the Fire Department (25 years); Rebecca F. Starkey, with the Public Works Administration (30 years) and Roger L. Descoteaux, with Public Works Wastewater Division (30 years).