Anniversary of Greenland Police Shootings Nears

Greenland Police Chief Tara Laurent knows that the one-year anniversary of the Greenland Police shootings on April 12 that took the life of Michael Maloney is coming up fast. But she is not sure yet if her department or the town will hold any ceremonies or other remembrance events.

On Monday, Laurent said she and her police officers are more focused on raising the money needed to travel to Washington, D.C., in May so they can attend a ceremony where Maloney's name will be added to the National Law Enforcement Memorial during the week of May 12 to May 16.

To that end, she said a community talent show is scheduled to be held at the Greenland Central School on the same day that Maloney was killed and four other police officers were wounded by Cullen Mutrie during a drug raid at Mutrie's home on 517 Post Road. Laurent said the talent show's organizers said they would donate some of the proceeds to help the Greenland police officers make the trip to the nation's capital.

“I think all of the officers are going,” Laurent said. She could not say how much money they need to raise to make it happen, but it is somewhere around  $7,000 to $8,000 to cover the airfare and hotel accommodations.

When asked if she thinks the Greenland Police Department or Greenland town officials will hold any ceremonies on April 12 to remember Maloney, Laurent could not say.

“There hasn’t been any talk yet," she said. "That doesn’t mean it’s not going to happen."

Emotionally, Laurent said it is a very difficult anniversary for her department, members of the Greenland community and the Seacoast region as a whole.

Over the last year, Maloney has posthumously received several awards from members of the law enforcement community and other groups. Two weeks ago, Laurent noted that Maloney was honored by the American Red Cross during its annual Heroes Breakfast for his bravery and sacrifice.

But each time Maloney has received another award, Laurent said it also brings back the difficult emotions that will be forever linked to that tragic day. In the days that followed the shootings, Greenland residents gathered at Town Hall and held a candlelight vigil to remember the fallen chief.

Maloney's funeral, which was held at Winnacunnet High School, where he once played high school football, attracted thousands of members of the New England law enforcement community. At the Greenland Police Department, Laurent and several other dignitaries dedicated the Chief Michael P. Maloney Memorial Patrol Room in October.

“I just think we’ve been avoiding the topic of bringing it back up,” Laurent said.

But Laurent also understands that there are many people throughout the Seacoast region who may want to see her department and the community hold some type of service or remembrance on April 12.

Regardless of what the Greenland Police Department decides to do on April 12, Laurent knows that Maloney's courage and sacrifice on that day will never be forgotten.