Vote Now for NPD Sgt. in National Competition

Read Nashua Police Sgt. Joseph Molinari's story below, as posted on Oticon USA's website, then vote for Sgt. Molinari and pass along this story via your Facebook and Twitter. Let's help Sgt. Molinari win the Oticon Focus on People Award, which honors people who defy the stigma of hearing loss.

Top winners in all categories will receive a $1,000 award and a $1,000 award to the non-profit group of their choice. First place winners in the Student, Adult and Advocacy categories will also receive a set of advanced technology Oticon hearing devices.

Second place winners in each category will receive a $500 award and third-place winners will receive $250.

The website features the 12 finalists who represent the "best of the best" from this year's nominations in each of four categories – Student, Adult, Advocacy and Practitioner.  Website visitors are asked to cast their vote for the finalists who most inspire them. Tabulations on the total number of votes received by each finalist will help to determine who will be the first, second and third place winners in each category. Winner

Voting closes March 31, 2013. Winners will be announced in April. We'll bring you the results as soon as they are available.

Via the OticonUSA.com contest site:

Sgt. Joe Molinari has for 19 years been dedicated to serving and protecting his community.  Eight years into his career, Joe suffered a sudden and dramatic hearing loss in both ears. It was a challenge to excel at his job without the ability to hear noises, soft voices, even high pitched whistles.  He knew he needed assistance with his hearing in order to perform his best on the job.

Joe was determined to show that addressing his hearing loss would strengthen his ability to serve the community and his fellow officers.  In a profession where physical and emotional strength is respected and necessary, Joe said he was “terrified” of walking into the locker room for the first time with hearing instruments. “There are 180 of us, all striving to be in the best physical shape. We work hard to avoid anything that might be perceived as a physical weakness.” Joe had nothing to worry about. The other officers were extremely supportive.

Once Joe got his hearing instruments, the positive difference was immediately noticeable. Soon after, he was heading home after work and still in uniform. A passing motorist yelled to him across heavy traffic. Prior to wearing his hearing devices, Joe would have been unable to discern the driver’s shouts over the noise of the passing traffic.  The motorist had witnessed an accident and the car was in a ditch nearby.  Joe rushed to the driver’s aid, discovered he was unresponsive, and began to administer CPR, listening carefully as the man began to breathe again.  The driver was revived and made a full recovery.

Joe’s renewed confidence on the job and willingness to stand up to hearing loss is already changing perceptions of what it means to have a hearing loss.  In fact, he is now a resource for people who are concerned about hearing loss but afraid to take action.

Joe is also a positive role model to the kids he coaches in basketball.  Through his example and support, a young boy with hearing loss on his team is now able to “get in the game.”  He has helped the other children on the team to understand how to support that young boy so that they can all succeed as a team.  It’s a lesson Joe is proud to share – on the job or on the court

Click here to vote for Sgt. Joseph Molinari then share this post with your friends and family and ask them to vote.