Brookline Police 'Officer Of The Year' Placed On Leave

BROOKLINE, MA —A Brookline police detective who was celebrated as the town's "Officer of the Year" in 2021 has been placed on administrative leave after he was accused of assaulting two Disney World security officers and a sheriff's deputy late last month, according to multiple media reports.

Det. Duane Danforth is accused of assaulting the officers at Disney's Epcot theme park on Jan. 30.

Reports said Danforth verbally assaulted and pushed the security officers while trying to get into a roped-off section of the park.

Danforth was unanimously selected as the department's Officer of the Year with the nominating committee crediting him with "his leadership in two critical incidents that took place in Brookline in 2021."

He was credited with helping de-escalate a situation involving a person in possession of a gun with a history of suicidal thoughts and overdoses. Danforth and his partner were able to help the man get to a hospital where he could receive mental health treatment.

Danforth was also credited with helping de-escalate a call where a combative man with a history of armed robberies was threatening to rob and kill people. That led to the suspect's arrest and discovery of a crime spree that involved six different victims.

Danforth was also a finalist for Officer of the Year in 2020.

A statement from the Brookline Police Union released to local media said: "Despite Detective Danforth's many years of outstanding service to our country and community, we also recognize that no person is perfect. We believe that one single instance of alleged misconduct should not

overshadow his otherwise exemplary service to Brookline and our country."