by Amber n. Johns

Seven police officers were recognized for superior performance of duty by the department March 5.

“The Somerville Police Department takes great pride in commending Capt. Daniel Matthews, Sgt. Dan Cotter and officers James Slattery, Sean Sylvester, David Monte, Sean Sheehan and Scott Gamble for their actions Feb. 16,” said Lt. Michael S. Cabral, the department’s awards coordinator.

In the early afternoon on Feb. 16, Slattery and Sylvester were dispatched to 93 Pearl Street for a report of a man threatening to kill himself, said Cabral.

“Upon their arrival, the resident Albert Brown threw bottles out the window at the officers and made threats to kill himself,” he said.

“Officer Sylvester requested additional units and the street supervisor, Sgt. Cotter,” he said.

Cabral said Cotter made an assessment of the incident. “There was a barricaded, depressed and suicidal person making threats to blow up the building.”

“There was a strong odor of gas emanating from the apartment of
the six-family dwelling,” he said.

Due to the potential danger, Cabral said that apartments within the vicinity were vacated. “Residents needed to be evacuated and brought to a secure area.”

Cabral said that Cotter ordered the officers to help evacuate the building and escort firefighters to the location in order to turn off the gas. “Sgt. Cotter requested the NEMLEC SWAT team to assist in entering the apartment,” he said. The North East Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council includes cities and towns in Middlesex and Essex counties.

Along with Matthews, Cotter began to negotiate with the suspect. “As a result of the rapport that Sgt. Cotter established with the suspect, he was able to calm the suspect down and persuaded him to surrender,”
Cabral said.

“The suspect surrendered without injury to the officers, bystanders or himself,” he said.

“As a result of the heroic actions of the officers on the scene and the cooperation of everybody involved, this incident had a successful conclusion, instead of in tragedy,” said Cabral.