Leominster awards medals of valor to police officers in 1995 gunbattle

By George Barnes
Telegram & Gazette Staff

 

Posted Sep. 15, 2015 at 10:11 PM
Updated Sep 16, 2015 at 10:10 PM

 

LEOMINSTER - Two decades after they found themselves in a wild gunbattle with a paroled murderer, a retired police officer and a current officer were awarded the Leominster Police Department's first medals of valor for their courage under fire.

 

Retired Officer Thomas Kent of Arizona and Leominster Officer Dwayne Flowers received the medals at the department's first awards ceremony. The medals honor their actions in a shootout with paroled murderer John J. McNeil while investigating a report of a suspicious person at a residence in the city. The two officers had to fight for their lives when Mr. McNeil leaped from hiding under a car with a pistol in each hand, firing at the officers.

 

As both officers returned fire, Officer Kent was hit in the chest with a bullet that deflected off a Cross pen in his pocket. He fell, severely wounded, but continued to return fire. The two officers eventually shot and killed Mr. McNeil. The wounds Officer Kent suffered forced him to retire from the Police Department on disability.

 

Officer Kent was given the Medal of Valor for showing extraordinary courage by continuing to fight back even when severely wounded. Officer Flowers was honored because while in a fight for his life, he also directed an innocent bystander to safety while under fire.

Officer Kent, who moved to Arizona 17 years ago, said he was not aware of the ceremony until 18 days ago and was happy to be there.

 

"I find it still overwhelming that 20 years later I'd even get an invitation to such an event," he said, adding that many of the officers attending did not know him, but knew of what he and Officer Flowers did. "I find that refreshing but still humbling."

 

Officer Kent downplayed his actions 20 years ago, saying it was what is expected of any police officer, firefighter or other first responder.

 

"I was just someone doing his job, and my partner Dwayne did the same job I did," he said. "Every single one of us who is a first responder is the type of person who runs into buildings to save someone. You put yourself below that person you're trying to save."

 

Mr. Kent said police officers put themselves at risk for anyone who needs help, regardless of who that person is.

 

"You do what you do," he said.

 

Police Chief Robert Healey said he was thrilled to have retired Officer Kent attend the ceremony.

"It's been 20 years to the day, almost to the minute, that Tommy took that bullet for Leominster, for Leominster PD. Tommy's a special guy," he said. "He gave the ultimate sacrifice in police work. It not only ravaged his body but affected his family."

 

Officer Kent also received the department's Purple Cross, an award given to an officer who suffered serious or life-threatening injury under aggravated and hostile circumstances. Also receiving that award was Officer Eric Craig, who was injured in 2012 while subduing a violent man at City Hall.

 

Along with two awards, Officer Kent also received a specially engraved pen set from Cross Pens to honor his service.

 

The awards ceremony marked not only the courage of Officers Kent, Flowers and Craig, but honored other officers who showed exceptional courage and decisiveness, saved lives, showed exceptional performance of their duties and performed difficult tasks under unusual circumstances.

 

Honored with the department's Distinguished Service Award for exceptional courage and decisiveness in the line of duty were Officers Michael Deluca and Kimberly Phillips and Sgt. Ryan Malatos. Officer Phillips also received the department's Lifesaving Award. Others receiving the award were Officer Richard Gallant, a detective in the Police Department, and Officers Brandon Fleming, Kyle Mimnaugh and Sean Ferguson.

The department's Meritorious Service Award was given to Officers Patrick Aubuchon, Scott Wolferseder and Joseph Siciliano, all detectives in the department, and Officer Randy Osborne. Letters of commendation were presented to Officers Brandon Fleming, Michael Salovardos and Richard Woodward.

 

The department also awarded 32 officers with military service bars recognizing their prior service in the military and 25 officers with education achievement bars recognizing they had achieved bachelor of science or higher degrees in criminal justice