Holliston Police Honored at Veteran's Day Ceremony

With the tragedy at Ft. Hood Texas last week fresh in everyone's mind, the American Legion Post Wednesday honored four local police officers with medals. It was a civilian police officer, Kimberly Munley (formerly of Massachusetts) who wounded a deranged Army Major Nidal Malik Hasan before he could kill more of his fellow comrades.

In a public pinning at the annual Veterans Day Ceremony, Sgt. George Leurini, and Officers Matt Waugh, Matt Stone and Ed Connors and Sgt. George Leurini were decorated with the American Legion's second highest medal, the Medal of Valor by Post Commander Steven Napolitano.

Officers Stone and Waugh were decorated for their actions on April 13, 2007. Although the call for assistance came in as a possible motor vehicle accident, the two officer's soon learned that the situation was one of a man in need of psychiatric help. The suspect produced a gun.  The officers having drawn their own service revolvers, ordered the suspect to drop his weapon which he did. A physical struggle ensued with the officers finally subduing the suspect. A further search of the party produced several knives.

Officer Ed Connors was decorated by Commander Napolitano for his attention to duty in the early morning hours of March 16, 2009.  He alerted Sgt. George Leurini (also decorated) to a situation stemming from a suicidal male in Hopkinton who was holding officers at bay. Sgt. Leurini was able to subdue the suspect with a stun gun, thereby preventing any further injuries.

Andrew MacGray who was involved in an incident earlier this year when Framingham Officer Phil Hurton was wounded by an assailant received his medal of valor earlier this fall during the town's Farms Day Celebration.