WEST NEWBURY — Chief Jeff Durand reports that he has formally commended two West Newbury Police Officers for going above and beyond the call of duty recently in helping to de-escalate a potentially violent situation involving a person with access toseveral weapons who was apparently suffering a mental health emergency.
On Friday, July 31 at approximately 3:15 p.m. Officers Rich Parenteau and Paul DeCoste responded to a home on Merrill Street for a report of a male threatening to harm himself and others. Upon arrival, the officers found a man enclosed in a barn, and ultimately the officers made a tactical entry and found the subject on the ground, with a large number of loaded guns nearby. The officers were able to communicate with the subject, deescalate the situation and brought him to an ambulance.
As a result of the hard work and diligence of Officers Parenteau and DeCoste who successfully resolved this incident involving a potentially dangerous individual suffering an apparent mental health emergency, Chief Durand recently presented the officers with a Letter of Commendation.
“This call could have ended in violence and this individual could have hurt himself and others, but Officers Parenteau and DeCoste were able to successfully navigate this complex incident, drawing upon their advanced training and years of public safety experience,” Chief Durand said. “Our officers acted swiftly and because of their expertise and care for human life, this situation ended peacefully. I think this is a prime example of excellent modern police work.”
Officers from the Groveland and Merrimac Police Departments also responded and assisted in the July 31 incident.
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