The Wilton Police Department recently announced that two of their officers have been recognized by the community.
Sergeant Thomas Tunney
Police Chief Michael Lombardo announced that Sgt. Thomas Tunney has been awarded the American Red Cross Community Hero Award for his life saving action of removing a motorist from a burning vehicle following a motor vehicle accident on October 9, 2012.
Sgt. Tunney, a 28 year veteran of the Wilton Police Department, was working the evening shift as the shift commander on that day. At approximately 6 p.m. a report of an off-road, one car accident on Hurlbutt St. was received. Sgt. Tunney responded to the scene and located a vehicle in a wooded area on its driver’s side, leaning against a tree and on fire, with the sole occupant unconscious and still inside the vehicle.
Sgt. Tunney found that the operator was trapped between the steering wheel and dashboard due to heavy front end damage. As Sgt. Tunney attempted to remove the operator through an opening in the windshield the car continued to burn. Other responding officers provided fire extinguishers from their vehicles to Sgt. Tunney which he used to keep the fire from burning the trapped victim. Sgt. Tunney was eventually able to free the operator and move him away from the vehicle.
Sgt. Tunney placed himself in extreme danger and at risk for severe burns as the fire encroached around him while working to free the trapped operator. He will be recognized at the American Red Cross Community Heroes Celebration Breakfast at the Trumbull Marriott on May 9.
Officer Diane MacLean
Ofc. Diane MacLean, a 13 year veteran of the Wilton Police Department, has been selected as a Law Enforcement Representative to Connecticut’s Special Olympics Program and will participate in the 2014 USA Games Final Leg Torch Run in New Jersey in June.
She will be part of a team of law enforcement officers from around the United States sharing the mission of raising awareness for Special Olympics and the 2014 USA Games by carrying the Flame of Home to many towns and communities, leading up to the Opening Ceremony of the 2014 USA Games. Six Special Olympics athletes have been chosen to run with law enforcement in this United Torch Run.
Ofc. MacLean has been active in fundraising for the Special Olympics by raising money through events such as Tip a Cop and Over the Edge, as well as participating in the Torch Run for the length of her career.
The 2014 Special Olympics USA Games will be hosted by New Jersey, June 14-21. Nearly 3,500 athletes will compete in 16 Olympic-style team and individual sports, with the support of 1,000 coaches, 10,000 volunteers and 70,000 family, friends and spectators.