Former Lakeville Police officer, Massachusetts State Police Trooper, receives Medal of Valor for exemplary acts of bravery

LAKEVILLE — Chief Matthew Perkins has announced that former Lakeville Police Department Officer Dakota J. Jones, who is now a Massachusetts State Police Trooper, received a Medal of Valor during the Trooper George L. Hanna Memorial Awards for Bravery ceremony today.

On Sept. 29, 2023, at approximately 3:45 a.m., then-Lakeville Police Officer Jones was monitoring traffic near the intersection of Precinct and Pickens streets. Timothy Hladik of Lakeville approached the officer and confronted him, displaying what appeared to be a black handgun. The officer retreated behind his cruiser, drew his service weapon, and ordered the suspect to drop the weapon. The suspect did not comply.

During the confrontation, off-duty Massachusetts State Police Trooper Christopher Nee was driving by and stopped to assist Officer Jones.

Officer Jones and Trooper Nee repeatedly ordered the man to drop the weapon, but the suspect did not comply. During the exchange, the suspect took an aggressive stance and raised the weapon. At this time, fearing for their safety, both fired, striking the suspect. The officers secured the suspect’s weapon and immediately rendered emergency medical aid to the man.

Body-worn camera footage later released by Lakeville Police showed then-Officer Jones telling the suspect to drop the gun a total of 11 times.

The suspect, who was charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and threatening to commit a crime, recovered from his injuries.

Troopers Jones and Nee were recognized Tuesday during the 41st Annual Trooper George L. Hanna Memorial Awards for Bravery ceremony at the Massachusetts State House Chambers in Boston. Gov. Maura Healey, Lt. Gov. Kimberly Driscoll, the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, and the Massachusetts State Police presented the awards.

Troopers Jones and Nee were among seven police officers who received a Medal of Valor on Tuesday, while four officers received the Medal of Honor. 

The recipients represented the following departments at the time of the related incidents: Acushnet Police Department, Berlin Police Department, Boston Police Department, Lakeville Police Department, Oxford Police Department, Massachusetts Port Authority Police Department, and Massachusetts State Police.

The Hanna Awards honor the memory of Massachusetts State Police Trooper George Hanna, killed in the line of duty in 1983, and recognize members of law enforcement for exemplary acts of bravery.

Each year, local and state agencies submit Hanna Award applications, which a committee of public safety and law enforcement executives reviews. Upon selecting individuals or teams as recipients, the committee considers the facts of each nomination to classify the award as either a medal of honor or valor. The Medal of Honor is the highest award for those who demonstrate extraordinary bravery and courage in the face of extreme risk and certain and imminent danger to life or limb. Valor is awarded to those whose valor in a single incident goes above and beyond the call of duty and who demonstrate selfless bravery despite the potential for danger to themselves.

On Saturday, Feb. 26, 1983, Trooper George Hanna conducted a motor vehicle stop in Auburn. Three men and two women were in the vehicle, and when Trooper Hanna removed the occupants for questioning, he was instantaneously shot six times by one of the male suspects. He died later that evening in a Worcester hospital, leaving behind his wife, Marilyn, and three children, Deborah, Kimberly, and Michael. The Hanna Award was founded in his memory.