VASSALBORO — Troopers from across Maine were among those honored Tuesday at the state police annual awards ceremony in Vassalboro.
Earning the Charles Black Trooper of the Year honor was Jarod Stedman, who works out of Troop E in Bangor, according to Maine State Police Spokesman Stephen McCausland.
Stedman was among 11 nominees for the award, named in memory of Black, who was shot and killed in the line of duty while responding to a bank robbery in South Berwick in 1964.
In addition to the troopers and police officers who were honored, three women were recognized for their involvement in separate rescue efforts.
Melissa Lamont received a meritorious service award for her role in helping a domestic violence victim thwart an attacker in Searsmont in March.
Judy Normand earned the Colonel’s Award for preventing her 2-year-old son from being abducted from an Interstate 295 park and ride in Bowdoinham in May, and was also commended for her role in the suspect’s arrest. Patricia Stanton also earned a Colonel’s Award for her role in saving a boy from a stream in Belgrade while on her way to work at Maranacook Community School.
Other award recipients included Troopers Christopher Rogers and Kyle Pelletier, who received a special commendation for their role in saving the life of a man who had been shot in West Gardiner while ice fishing in February. Sgt. Corey Huckins and Trooper Gregory Roy each earned a Colonel’s Award for their roles in coordinating school safety programs in Oxford and Hancock counties, respectively.
Trooper Christopher Hashey, based out of Troop E, was honored with a bravery award for his role in an Edinburg shooting in August 2012.
Numerous officers, including Troopers Tucker Bonnevie, Darren Vittum, Hashey, Chris Cookson, Stedman, Dave Yankowsky, Matt Grant, Sgt. Ted Millett, and Sgts. James Kennedy and Rick Canarr of the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office, along with Deputies Sean McCue, Ray Goodspeed and Catherine St. John were distributed a Colonel’s Award for their role in solving Glenburn burglaries from the winter of 2013.
Major Crimes Unit officers Sgt. Troy Gardner, Detectives Jay Pelletier, Elmer Farren, Darryl Peary, Greg Mitchell, Tom Pickering, Jennifer Fiske and Brian Strout, who is now retired, also earned Colonel’s Awards for their work.
Trooper Barry Meserve and Old Town police Det. James Slauenwhite both earned meritorious service awards, and Old Town Sgt. Mike Hashey earned a bravery award, for their roles in an Old Town homicide case in October in which they rescued the children of a woman who was killed in an apartment and shot her attacker. Sgts. Alden Bustard and Carleton Small also earned meritorious service awards for saving a man in Trenton who had attempted to kill himself in February.
Receiving the legendary trooper honor was retired Corporal Harold Savage of Auburn, who was on the force from 1972-2004. McCausland said the honor is the highest a retired trooper can receive.
Family members of several troopers also received college scholarships as part of the state police’s memorial scholarship.
Rounding out the honorees were Troopers Scott Duff and Jesse Duda, out of Troop C, who received Colonel’s Awards.
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