Officers receive bravery medals for actions during Apponaug shooting

Kelcy Dolan
Posted 12/18/14

Police department and public officials alike gathered at the police community room Tuesday night for a swearing-in and award ceremony. After what Colonel Stephen McCartney called a busy six months …

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Officers receive bravery medals for actions during Apponaug shooting

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Police department and public officials alike gathered at the police community room Tuesday night for a swearing-in and award ceremony. After what Colonel Stephen McCartney called a busy six months for the police department, there were plenty of awards to give out throughout the department.

McCartney said, “On my unofficial count, we have had five critical incidents, but through the training and bravery of the Warwick police force we have handled each incident successfully.”

Several of the awards were given in regards to this summer’s shooting incident involving Kenneth Cunningham, who had jumped his parole, nearly a year earlier in California.

After being first identified by two Warwick officers in Oakland Beach, Cunningham led police officers on a car then foot chase while wielding a handgun. Eventually, after Cunningham fired shots, officers retaliated and apprehended the man. For this event, among others, officers were awarded the Life Saving Award, the Medal of Bravery and First Class Commendations.

Father Robert Marciano, the police chaplain, opened the ceremony with a prayer.

Mayor Scott Avedisian thanked the force for their hard work, saying, “The Police Department puts their lives on the line everyday to protect our community and for this they are heroes in every sense of the word.”

At the event, recruits Mitchel J. Voyer, Christopher R. Cote, Walter C. Larson and trainee Timothy J. Tavares were sworn in as probationary officers for the Warwick Police Department. They stood together while being sworn in and then each had a close family member come forward and pin their new badge on their uniforms.

In the following award ceremony, Sergeant James P. Valkoun, Officers Jacob T. Elderkin, Stephen J. Major, and Christian W. Vargas, Sergeant Margaret A. McKay, Officers Jason P. Brodeur and Patrick H. Smith were awarded the Life Saving Award; this award goes to police department employees who save or prolong the life of another. Valkoun disarmed a suicidal man with a taser without incident. Similarly, Vargas, Major and Elderkin disarmed a suicidal woman who had been cutting herself with a knife. They then applied pressure to reduce the bleeding from the woman’s wounds. McKay, Brodeur and Smith disarmed a shotgun-wielding man in an apartment complex.

Medals of Bravery were awarded to Sergeant Timothy J. Marhsall, Detective David S. Morrow and Officer Darren J. Parrillo for their actions during this summer’s shooting incident in Apponaug.

Lieutenant Andrew P. Tainsh, Sergeant Kyle D. Kettelle and Officer Scott Chanthaphouvong also received First Class Commendations for their actions during the incident with Kenneth Cunningham over the summer.

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