Officers Honored for Valor During Greenland Shootings

Portsmouth Police Chief Stephen DuBois wanted to recognize the bravery and the professional exhibited by several of his police officers during the Greenland shootings that claimed the life of Greenland Police Chief Michael Maloney.

But he had to wait several months until the New Hampshire Attorney General's investigation into the shootings was completed before he could. Finally, DuBois was able to give those police officers the recognition they deserved during one of the most intense and challenging incidents any of them had ever faced.

Maloney was killed and four other police officers were wounded during the drug raid at his home on 517 Post Road in Greenland last year when authorities say Mutrie fired at them after they approached the house. Mutrie also shot and killed his ex-girlfriend, Brittany Tibbetts, before killing himself during the lengthy standoff with police.

At the beginning of the Portsmouth Police Commission's meeting on Feb. 20, DuBois recognized 17 members of the Portsmouth Police Department.

"In valor, there is hope,” DuBois said, quoting the National Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington, D.C. He said in May Maloney’s name will be engraved on that same wall.

Portsmouth Police Officers Tim Black, Andre Wassouf, Charlie Raizes, Chris Worthington and Stephen Blanding received the Medal of Valor for their efforts to successfully use the Seacoast Emergency Response Team's armored vehicle to evacuate Chief Maloney to safety after he had been shot by Mutrie in front of Mutrie's home on Post Road.

Portsmouth Police Capt. Mike Schwartz and Portsmouth Police Officers Michael Kotsonis, Eric Benz, Christopher Kibert, Brian Houde, Robert Lukacz, Timothy McCain and Duane Jacques all received the Medal of Meritorious Service.

According to DuBois, Schwartz was one of the first Portsmouth Police officers to arrive on scene and helped coordinate forward operations to help other tactical units get into positions. Benz and Kotsonis set up a perimeter around the rear of Mutrie's house and maintained their positions even after they were told the suspect could be in the back wooded area.

Jacques and Houde helped reunited a juvenile with his grandmother after they arrived on the scene. Kibert provided cover fire to help officers get Maloney safely into the back of the armored vehicle so he could later be transferred to a waiting ambulance. Lukacz and McCain helped a wheelchair bound woman to evacuate from a nearby house to safety.

Letters of commendation were given to several more police department members who also performed extremely well under very difficult circumstances.

DuBois said Detective Sgt. Tom Grella responded to a command post at the Greenland Central School shortly after the incident happened and later worked with the Greenland Police Department for several days to assist them with their needs.

He said retired Sgt. Kim Sirr arrived at the scene, diverted traffic away from the area near Mutrie's home and kept the scene secure so that other police officers could do their jobs. 

DuBois also had high praise for two of the department's dispatchers, Jessica Walley and Tara McKinley, who found themselves handling an enormous number of incoming police calls. He said they were very calm and professional and dispatched all of the needed police officers and firefighters from several communities to the scene while handling other 911 calls.