Haverhill Officer Cooper Receives Award for River Rescue Role

Police Chief Alan R. DeNaro and Valley Patriot Publisher present the Officer Tom Duggan Sr. Law Enforcement Award to Police Officer Guy Cooper. (Photograph by Cindy Driver.)

Haverhill Police Officer Guy Cooper was among those honored Friday night during the Valley Patriot newspaper’s 13th Annual Bash.

Cooper, accompanied by Haverhill Police Chief Alan R. DeNaro received the Officer Tom Duggan Sr. Law Enforcement Award for helping to save a woman who jumped into the Merrimack River last November. During the award presentation, Essex County Sheriff Kevin F. Coppinger read from DeNaro’s report of a woman who jumped into the Merrimack River.

“Observing the difficulty facing (Harbormaster Michael Vets), Officer Cooper waded into the frigid waters to assist with getting the victim on the boat and ultimately back on shore and into an awaiting ambulance.” During an appearance before the Haverhill City Council last December, DeNaro praised Cooper and Vets.

“The officers acted as we would want them to act, as we want them to protect us and to be there and they were. And especially, when it comes to going into the Merrimack in the middle of November, I call that above and beyond. I’m very proud and I’m impressed with the actions of both of these individuals and I felt that it merited notifying the public as well as this council of the caliber of people that we have that protect us, serve us and are out there guarding us on a daily basis.”

Tom Duggan also presented an award to Methuen Fire Chief Timothy Sheehy while Sheriff Kevin F. Coppinger looks on. (Photograph by Cindy Driver.)

Tom Duggan also presented an award to Methuen Fire Chief Timothy Sheehy while Sheriff Kevin F. Coppinger looks on. (Photograph by Cindy Driver.)

Methuen Fire Chief Timothy Sheehy was also presented with the award for his work helping families displaced by fire last Christmas season. In one instance, out of many stories, Sheehy drove a victim to a shopping center to buy shoes.

The awards are named in honor of Lawrence Police Officer Duggan, who died in the line of duty March 16, 1990—three days after being attacked by two men, one of whom struck him with a metal softball bat. He was 47. Duggan was the father of Valley Patriot Publisher Tom Duggan.

3 thoughts on “Haverhill Officer Cooper Receives Award for River Rescue Role

    • Before JACK chimes in, now we know you are the Mayor there Donnie because only a Tribune rump swab would say that about a paper that honors cops, firefighters, and veterans every year. Besides the fact that the stories written in the Valley Patriot are accurate and not printed directly from your press releases as are the Tribunes’. Seems you hate anything truthful especially when it tells the truth about you and your political cronies’ escapades.

    • Too bad the evening was about everyone else except The Valley Patriot.

      Just ask all the kids who received scholarships, The Gold Star Family, and the family members of a forgotten police officer who died in the line of duty in 1950 – The “End of Watch” ceremony was fantastic. Or maybe the Veteran Service/Outreach folks who were acknowledged for their tireless effort. Too many to list really, but cowards and trolls will be cowards and trolls.

      While I don’t think Mayor Jimmy posts here, it speaks volumes of how he was noticeably absent while one of his own city employees was honored. Meanwhile, nearly every other local and regional state official was there from both sides of the aisle, sans Mayor Jimmy and Brian Dempsey.