Massachusetts State Police Trooper, local police, receive Medal of Valor after being put at risk in two incidents

A Massachusetts State Police Trooper and local police were recognized recently for their actions.

According to the State Police Association of Massachusetts, this past week, one of their members, Trooper Phil Giardino, was recognized by the Brockton Police Department for his actions with two particular incidents with several officers from Brockton Police.

On January 16th, Trooper Giardino as well as Brockton Police Detective Ernest Bell, Detective Timothy Donahue, and Sergeant Lucas Pedro had located a suspect wanted for a murder in Brockton the previous day. When they entered the home that the suspect was in, the suspect was on a couch covered in a blanket with a loaded firearm in his waistband. After ignoring commands from the officers, a violent struggle ensued. The suspect was subsequently placed into custody and no injuries were sustained.

For their actions, showing “uncommon valor” during their apprehension of the murder suspect, Brockton Police Detective Lieutenant David Farrell nominated these officers to receive the Medal of Valor.

Also in January, Trooper Phil Giardino was working with Brockton Police Detectives Ernie Bell and Timothy Donahue when again they successfully disarmed a gun-wielding suspect that was connected to a robbery of a United States Postal Worker in Randolph.

Brockton Detectives and Trooper Giardino received information from the Randolph Police Department that a particular Acura sedan was used as the getaway vehicle. With a search warrant for the vehicle, they located and approached the vehicle. Upon approaching the vehicle, they ordered the occupant of the vehicle to turn the vehicle off and exit the vehicle, which the suspect refused. With great effort, the suspect was subsequently removed from the vehicle and a struggle ensued, while the suspect kept reaching for his waistband. Trooper Giardino removed a firearm from the suspect’s waistband while the fight continued. The suspect was eventually placed in handcuffs and taken into custody.

Brockton Police Lieutenant Paul Bonanca, who nominated the officers and Trooper Giardino for the Medal of Valor, noted that they should be commended as they placed themselves at great personal risk engaging with an armed suspect without the assistance of backup personnel who were not on scene yet.