Two Weymouth Officers Receive 2014 Officer Robert P. Dana Award

Norfolk District Attorney Michael W. Morrissey conferred 2014 Officer Robert P. Dana Awards for meritorious police work to Officer Brenden Fogarty and Detective David Galvin during Law Day ceremonies at Quincy District Court on Friday.

“Metropolitan Police Officer Dana was shot and killed by a suspect who had gained control of another officer’s weapon during a traffic stop on March 25, 1984,” District Attorney Morrissey said. “He had been an officer for 8 years and had arrived at the stop to assist another officer. The award recognizes exemplary police work, but also recognizes the valor associated with stepping into harm’s way not once, but as a way of life.”

In September 2013 Weymouth Police were called to a violent armed robbery in progress at a market on Washington Street. Two masked armed men were in the market, violently assaulting employees as they stole cash. The suspects fled through the woods toward the Queen Anne’s Gate apartment complex, District Attorney Morrissey said. “A perimeter was established and a coordinated manhunt began.”

 “Within a very short time, Officer Fogarty had positioned himself at the wood line and heard movement in nearby brush. It was one of the suspects, and Officer Fogerty was able to apprehend him,” DA Morrissey said. “One loaded firearm was found in the area, along with a sum of money.”

The second suspect broke into the rear of an occupied townhouse, ran out the front door and managed to carjack an elderly resident in an adjacent housing development – temporarily escaping. Detective David Galvin, who was at the scene, was assigned to investigate the case. He identified the second suspect, well known to police elsewhere. He obtained an arrest warrant on the Weymouth charges and his work provided sufficient evidence for Hingham Police to secure an arrest warrant for carjacking.

“The roles of these two officers in the case were very different, but the professional application of their training and experience led each one to a successful arrest,” Morrissey said.

Pictured Above: From left, Quincy District Court First Justice Mark Coven, Officer Brenden Fogarty, Detective David Galvin, Chief Richard C. Grimes, Supreme Judicial Court Justice Margot Botsford and District Attorney Michael W. Morrissey visited the judge’s chambers following the award presentation.