Left to right: Officer Christopher Chipchak, Chief Colin Spence, Dispatcher Andrew Houmiller, Officer Jake Hartshorn, Officer Matthew Kilmartin, Detective Brian Ubele, Officer Christopher Robinson, Officer Matthew Sech, Officer Nicholas Thayer and Officer Craig Mead. (Photo Courtesy Chelmsford Police Department)
CHELMSFORD — The Chelmsford Police Department recognized officers, supervisors and other employees for outstanding work over the past year during a ceremony held last Wednesday.
On Wednesday, April 9, the Chelmsford Police Department held the 26th Annual Chelmsford Police Foundation Awards at Princeton Station.
The Chelmsford Police Foundation is a non-profit corporation consisting of Chelmsford business, professional and civic leaders. The Foundation provides programs and equipment to the Chelmsford Police Department that otherwise would go unfunded.
Award recipients were chosen by a committee of Chelmsford officers and supervisors, who then forward their recommendations to Chief Colin Spence.
“I am extremely proud of all of our officers and employees for their exceptional dedication, service and commitment to the Town of Chelmsford,” said Chief Spence. “It is an honor and a privilege to lead such and outstanding group of officers and employees.”
(The dates and addresses of the incidents that led to awards have been excluded to help maintain the privacy of those involved in the matters.)
Those recognized were:
Officer Christopher Chipchak and Officer Christopher Robinson — Meritorious Service Award for Lifesaving
Officer Chipchak and Officer Christopher Robinson entered a duplex and rescued four sleeping occupants who were unaware of a fire. Their decisive and courageous actions helped prevent potential loss of life in a rapidly evolving emergency situation.
Detective Brian Ubele — Meritorious Service Award for Lifesaving
Chelmsford officers responded to a call of a suicidal female preparing to jump from a bridge. Detective Ubele quickly located the individual seated on the bridge with her legs dangling over the ledge. Exiting his cruiser, he distracted the individual and quickly closed the distance. He wrapped his arms around her torso and pulled her backward off the ledge, bringing her safely to the ground.
Detective Ubele placed himself in harm’s way to prevent a tragic outcome. His quick thinking and decisive actions ensured the safety of the individual.
Dispatcher Andrew Houmiller, Officer Derek Tyros, and Officer Jake Hartshorn — Meritorious Service Award for Lifesaving
Chelmsford Public Safety Dispatcher Andrew Houmiller answered a 911 call from a frantic resident reporting that their father had collapsed and was not breathing. Dispatcher Houmiller remained calm, providing CPR instructions to the distraught family members over the phone until first responders arrived. Officers Derek Tyros and Officer Hartshorn arrived on the scene and immediately took over patient care. Officers Tyros and Hartshorn provided vital, high-quality CPR and utilized an AED to deliver three shocks to the patient. Thanks to these critical, life-saving interventions, the patient ultimately survived.
Dispatcher Houmiller’s composed and professional guidance empowered the family to begin CPR, bridging the gap until officers arrived. Officers Tyros and Hartshorn demonstrated exceptional professionalism and medical proficiency, dramatically increasing the patient’s chances of survival.
Officer Matthew Sech — Meritorious Service Award for Lifesaving
On the afternoon of Aug. 2, 2024, while on summer vacation with his family at a resort pool in Conway, N.H., Officer Matthew Sech observed a frantic mother pulling the lifeless body of a 2-year-old child from the water. Without hesitation, he immediately sprang into action to assist. Officer Sech provided medical care and delivered several back blows to help expel water from child’s lungs.
As a result of his swift and decisive actions, the child gradually regained consciousness. Officer Sech’s quick thinking and life-saving intervention exemplify his dedication to protecting and serving, even beyond the call of duty.
Chief Colin C. Spence — Meritorious Service Award for Lifesaving
The committee surprised Chief Spence with this recognition by excluding him from the usual award review.
Chief Spence was driving his police vehicle on Billerica Road when he observed a commotion on the side of the road. Chief Spence, along with a bystander, realized that an individual was in cardiac arrest. The Chief radioed for additional assistance and the Chief and bystander began providing life-saving measures including CPR. The individual was stabilized and transported to the hospital where their condition improved significantly.
The seamless coordination between emergency personnel played a crucial role in preventing a tragic outcome.
Officer Matthew Kilmartin — Meritorious Service Award for Outstanding Performance of Duty
Officer Kilmartin was conducting routine patrol when he observed a vehicle and its owner who were wanted by the Lowell Police Department in connection with a shooting two days prior. Officer Kilmartin initiated a traffic stop. A loaded handgun was in plain view beneath the driver’s seat. The suspect was taken into custody and later charged.
Officer Kilmartin’s proactive and diligent policing on the midnight shift led to the identification and apprehension of an individual connected to a violent crime. This traffic stop not only resulted in a successful arrest, but also in the removal of a dangerous firearm from the community, enhancing public safety.
Officer Nicholas Thayer — Meritorious Service Award for Outstanding Performance of Duty
Officer Thayer was dispatched to a store for a report of a past shoplifting incident. Store employees reported that an unknown individual had attempted to purchase a highly valued item using a credit card, which was declined. The suspect claimed he needed to retrieve another card from his vehicle, but when the cashier was momentarily distracted, he returned and fled with the item without paying.
Officer Thayer launched an investigation and quickly discovered that the same individual had used a similar deception at various locations in Woburn; Manchester, N.H.; and Nashua, N.H. Further investigation led Officer Thayer to a Facebook profile that was advertising the item for sale.
Posing as an interested buyer, Officer Thayer engaged with the suspect over several days to arrange a meeting. During this meeting, Officer Thayer arrested the suspect and recovered one of the items from inside his vehicle.
Officer Thayer went above and beyond, recognizing that the suspect was engaged in an organized retail theft operation to steal and resell high-value products for profit. His diligence and investigative efforts effectively halted a multi-state theft spree and led to the arrest of an individual wanted in multiple jurisdictions.
Officer Nicholas Thayer and Officer Craig Mead — Meritorious Service Awards for Valor
The Northeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council SWAT Team, which includes Officer Thayer and Officer Mead, was dispatched to a residential address elsewhere in the region in response to an armed barricaded subject who was shooting at police. The suspect had access to a large arsenal of firearms and was actively firing at police. Over the course of several hours, the suspect engaged SWAT officers from hidden positions inside the home, striking the armored vehicle occupied by NEMLEC officers dozens of times.
Officer Thayer and Officer Mead demonstrated extraordinary bravery and valor in their response to the incident alongside NEMLEC SWAT colleagues. Their actions exemplify the highest standards of the Chelmsford Police Department.
