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A Newsletter by the City of Saco, Maine	July, 2007	Return to newsletter index

Saco Police Employees Recognized

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Several Saco Police Department employees were recognized by Chief Bradley Paul recently for their actions in several recent events: Among the employees awarded Certificates of Recognition were:

Patrol Officer Anthony Amburg, for his actions on November 28th when he was dispatched to a report of an out-of-control juvenile. Officer Amburg arrived at the Elmwood Drive address to be confronted by a 14 year old male juvenile armed with a BB gun. Officer Amburg attempted unsuccessfully to persuade the boy to put the weapon down, but the teen reacted by shooting Officer Amburg in the arm. Amburg charged the teen, tackling and subduing him before further threats could be carried out. Air rifles of this sort cause thousands of eye and other injuries across the United States each year; death in a few instances and we recognize the fact that Officer Amburg placed himself in harm's way in an effort to get help for a youngster in crisis. Amburg was not injured in the incident.

Sgt. Jeffrey Holland and Patrol Officer Kenneth Foss, for their actions on December 11th. They responded to a report that the Elm Street Xtra Mart had been robbed. Quick actions by these officers resulted in the apprehension of two suspects in connection with that robbery. Sgt. Holland located a 19 year old female suspect on foot and pursued her, knowing that she was possibly armed, and he apprehended her after a short foot chase. When the getaway vehicle pulled into the Xtra Mart lot shortly searching for the female accomplice, Foss confronted the occupants at gunpoint and took them into custody. His decisive actions resulted in the arrest of one of the occupants, a 22 year old male. Without the actions of both officers in connection with this case, this case may not have been solved and their actions reflect well upon them.

Patrol Officers Monica Fahy and Scott Ouellette for their actions on September 8th. These officers were responding to a reported intoxicated driver in the area of the Buxton Road and the Joy Valley Road. Officer Ouellette discovered the vehicle shortly after it had been involved in an accident on Route 117. After checking the driver, a 39 year old Dayton male, for injuries, Officer Ouellette met briefly with Officer Fahy to advise her of the circumstances. During this interim, the injured male in the vehicle attempted to shoot himself in the head with a 44 magnum revolver that he had in the vehicle. The gunshot grazed the operator's head, injuring but not killing him. Upon hearing the gunshot, Fahy quickly evacuated the passersby and bystanders to safety and Ouellette returned to the driver. From a position of minimal cover and at considerable danger to themselves, the officers calmed the operator while persuading him not to shoot again. Throughout the ordeal, the operator pleaded with the officers to "just shoot" him. Their quick thinking and measured response kept a bad situation from becoming worse and prevented further injury. The operator was disarmed shortly thereafter and transported to the hospital.

Dispatchers Scott Nolette and Beth Colomb, for their handling of a Christmas evening complaint in which the police department was contacted by a 16 year old Windham female who was conversing via instant message with a 17 year old Saco resident. The Saco resident was despondent and had voiced thoughts of ending his life. The Windham teen contacted the Saco Police Department, and worked with the dispatchers to learn enough about the Saco teen to eventually uncover who he was and his location. The dispatchers showed great skill and initiative in researching information from the internet and Thornton Academy yearbooks to conclusively establish the boy's identity, and he was later taken for treatment. Their ability to work with the Windham complainant to elicit the information necessary to resolve this matter showed great skill and compassion and they are hereby commended.