Photo By Laura Berry | WORCESTER, Mass. – Sgt. Scott Morin, a water treatment specialist of the 125th...... read more read more
Worcester Police Officer and Massachusetts National Guard Soldier receives award for Bravery after saving two teens from drowning
Story by Sgt. 1st Class Laura Berry
WORCESTER, Mass. – Sgt. Scott Morin, a water treatment specialist of the 125th Quartermaster Company, Massachusetts National Guard, and a Worcester Police Officer, received the Medal of Honor during the 39th Annual Trooper George L. Hanna Memorial Awards for Bravery Ceremony at Mechanics Hall, Nov. 1, 2022. The awards were presented by Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker, Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito, Security Secretary Terrence Reidy, and family members of Trooper Hanna.
A total of 32 Massachusetts law enforcement personnel received the George L. Hanna Memorial Award for Bravery. On Feb. 26, 1983, Trooper Hanna conducted a motor vehicle stop in Auburn, Mass., where he was shot six times and later died from his wounds at a Worcester Hospital. These awards, named to honor Hanna’s service, are an opportunity to recognize the bravery of members of the law enforcement community who put their lives on the line by dedicating themselves to safety throughout Massachusetts.
On June 4, 2021, five officers helped three teens stay afloat in Green Hill Pond in Worcester, Massachusetts. Worcester officer Scott Morin, 26, was the first to arrive at the scene and entered the deep, 52-degree water of the pond fully clothed. He swam about 35 feet and grasped a 15-year-old boy and 14-year-old girl each by the hand and towed them to wadable water near the bank. Morin was nearly exhausted after the rescue and was taken to the hospital by ambulance. He was later released and recovered.
Officer Enmanuel Familia, 38, also with Worcester police, also responded to the pond, where others alerted him that a 14-year-old boy remained in the pond and had submerged. Fully clothed, Familia entered the pond and swam about 60 feet toward the teen’s last known location, but he shortly struggled in the water and submerged.
By then, state trooper Amy M. Waterman, 47, and Worcester officers Angela C. Consiglio, 51, and Steven Barnett, 56, had arrived and entered the pond to search for the teen, then swam to where Familia was last seen. Though all three officers dived multiple times to locate Familia, they could not find him.
Fire officials arrived and ordered all the officers out of the water. Waterman and Consiglio, nearly exhausted, exited the water, and were taken by ambulance to the hospital. They were later released and recovered. Barnett remained in the water where Familia was last seen to mark the position for fire department divers. He too was taken to the hospital by ambulance where he was treated and released.
Familia and the 14-year-old boy were recovered by divers later that day; they had drowned.
The five officers received the Medal of Honor for their bravery on June 4, 2021, with Officer Familia’s family accepting the award posthumously for him. Morin said it was really emotional, but he was glad to see Familia’s wife and family there at the ceremony.
Morin described feeling bittersweet about receiving the award. His wife, mom, dad, and brother were at the ceremony, and he said they have been very supportive.
“A year and a half later, the emotions are still just like it happened yesterday,” he said. “I’m proud of it and of the guys I work alongside and the girls I work alongside.”
This year is Governor Baker and Lieutenant Governor Polito’s last year in office attending the Hanna awards.
“After eight years of having a front row seat, under very complicated and difficult circumstances, I can say how grateful I am to have been able to serve beside you, and hopefully had a chance -- one time or another -- to make it known how much we appreciate all of you for what you do, who you are and what you mean to our Commonwealth,” said Governor Baker.
| Date Taken: | 11.01.2022 |
| Date Posted: | 11.02.2022 13:06 |
| Story ID: | 432493 |
| Location: | WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, US |
| Web Views: | 342 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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