6 Nashua Police Officers Honored for Heroism

NASHUA, NH — Six Nashua police officers were honored this week for saving the lives of three individuals this year.

Nashua police regularly award commendations to officers and civilians who "engage in life-saving rescue efforts."

The six officers honored this week are Richard Treem, Dennis Lee, Kevin Delaney, Jonathan Earnshaw, Ryan MacDonald, and Stephen Berry.

These are police accounts of their life-saving efforts:

Officers Richard Treem, Dennis Lee, and Kevin Delaney

On 23 April 2016, officers responded to Fairmount Street where a 17 year old male was threatening to jump off of the bridge. Officer Richard Treem, Officer Dennis Lee, and Officer Kevin Delaney responded to the call and found the juvenile male on the outside of the bridge’s railing, leaning outward with his arms extended behind him, while staring downward at the Broad Street Parkway. The juvenile male was yelling that he wished to die and he was also bleeding from a self-inflicted wound to his hand. Officer Treem was able to establish a dialogue with the male while Officer Delaney and Officer Lee discretely moved behind him. As Officer Lee observed the male loosen his grip on the railing he moved in closer and was able to grab hold of the male. The male then aggressively attempted to break free and jump. Officer Delaney was able to move in at this point and assisted Officer Lee in controlling the male, ultimately bringing him back over the railing. This is the third lifesaving award presented to Officer Delaney within the last two years.

Officers Jonathan Earnshaw and Ryan MacDonald

On 09 July 2016, at approximately 2:15 a.m. officers responded to the area of 15 Paxton Terrace for the report of shots fired. Initial information also indicated that two individuals had been shot at that location. Upon arrival, Officer Jonathan Earnshaw observed a male victim, inside of a vehicle, bleeding profusely from his neck. Officer Ryan MacDonald arrived on scene shortly after and the two officers began to render aid to the victim. The officers recognized that they did not have time to wait for an ambulance so they placed the victim inside a cruiser and transported the victim to the Southern New Hampshire Regional Medical Center. It was later learned that the victim had not sustained a gunshot wound but instead a stab wound. The victim was subsequently transported to a Boston hospital for further treatment. The attending doctor at SNHMC stated later that if Officer Earnshaw and Officer MacDonald had not taken the actions that they did, the victim more than likely would have died at the scene.

Officer Stephen Berry

On 13 July 2016, a distraught adult male was found in the Nashua River, in waist high water refusing to come to shore. Officer Stephen Berry was first on scene and tried to convince the male to come to the shore. The male waded deeper into the water, eventually going under. The male was soon in distress, flailing his arms and unable to come to the surface on his own. Officer Berry removed his duty belt and jumped into the river. Officer Berry was able to grab control of the male and was able to swim with him to where the male could stand on his own. The male indicated later that if Officer Berry had not come into the water he would have drowned.

Related

• 4 Lives Saved: Nashua Police Officers Honored

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