Three Officers Honored For Highway Rescue
Published: February 7, 2007
For police and firefighters, small acts of heroism, strength and bravery happen even on an ordinary day. But Dec. 8 was no ordinary day.
Just before 3 p.m., a snow squall crossed the Lower Cape, spawning a number of traffic accidents along the Suicide Alley section of Route 6. The most dramatic of those crashes happened just west of Exit 10, where a Ford Bronco crossed the center line and struck another vehicle head-on. The driver of the Bronco, 55-year-old Robert Charon of Harwich, was pinned underneath the overturned vehicle, literally unable to breathe because of the weight of the vehicle. The truck’s gas tank had ruptured, and gasoline was flowing all over the man and the area.
For their part in the rescue that ensued, three Harwich police officers went before the board of selectmen Monday night to receive commendation medals, and the thanks of the town fathers.
Off-duty officer Joseph Labelle, an avid weight lifter, arrived at the scene to find a state highway worker trying to assist. Acting without any rescue tools, Labelle and the highway worker, George Boucher, lifted the vehicle onto its side, allowing Charon to take some raspy breaths. Officers Neil Nolan and Kevin Considine arrived at the scene, and Nolan nosed his cruiser against the vehicle, pushing it upright and holding it in place. When firefighters arrived and began extricating the man from the wreck, Considine helped in that dangerous effort. The whole time, all of the officers—and the Harwich firefighters present—faced the real possibility that a spark might reach the gasoline, igniting the entire accident scene. After the tricky rescue, the trapped driver was safely delivered to the hospital.
Chief of Police William Mason told selectmen Monday that the department expects its officers to be dedicated, honest and professional, but on rare occasions, officers exceed those expectations. In the six-and-a-half years he’s been chief, “I’ve awarded two medals in that entire period of time. So these do not come frequently,” Mason said.
On the nomination of Lt. Thomas Gagnon, Mason presented Labelle with a Distinguished Service Medal, second only to the Medal of Valor among awards the department issues. Labelle also received two days’ leave in recognition of the honor. The chief presented Meritorious Service Medals to Nolan and Considine, and each received a day of leave.
“I can’t express to you how proud I am of these individual officers and the services that they have provided to the community,” Mason said.
Deputy Fire Chief William Flynn said the police officers remained and actively helped with the rescue even once firefighters arrived.
“Everybody was working ankles-deep in gasoline, and they did not shy away. They continued to stay right there and go ahead and help extricate the patient from the vehicle,” Flynn said. That kind of cooperation between the police and fire departments is not unusual, he noted. “Whenever we show up at motor vehicle accidents and we’re short-handed, they’re always there to lend a hand,” Flynn said.
The selectmen paused their meeting to allow the officers to be photographed with their families. A large number of other police officers and firefighters also attended the meeting to show their support.
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