Series: Patch Will Spotlight Police Award Winners

On the evening of July 2, 2011, officers were dispatched to the Best Western Motel for a domestic dispute involving a woman who was screaming for help from within a room. Officer Michael Manning arrived moments later and recognized, from the commotion he heard inside the room, that he faced a violent and immediate life threatening situation.

Officer Manning pounded on the door announcing police presence and the woman screamed that a man was going to kill her. The suspect yelled that he would kill the woman if police entrance was made. Officer Manning took a position of cover and ordered again that the door be opened and within seconds the door opened and the critically injured woman crawled out into the hallway. The hotel room door immediately closed behind the woman commencing what would be an extended barricaded suspect operation. The woman had been stabbed and was bleeding profusely.

Officer Manning maintained protective cover of the woman until the arrival of Officer Silverio, who also took up a position of cover. The woman reported that the suspect was in possession of a gun. Officers Manning and Silverio maintained cover of the barricaded suspect’s room. They maintained their positions throughout the operation.

Officers Solek and Bartolomeo arrived and extracted the injured victim from her unsafe location and carried her to safety. Officers Solek and Bartolomeo then returned to the second floor of the motel to provide cover. Officers Manning, Silverio, Solek and Bartolomeo maintained their cover positions until relieved by the New Britain SWAT unit that ultimately breached the barricaded suspect’s position and took the suspect into custody.

In recognition of their outstanding performance of duties in this case, Officer Michael Silverio, Detective Shawn Solek and Officer Douglas Bartolomeo were awarded the Chief’s Award.