By Paul Upton

On Saturday evening, twenty-two law enforcement officers from nine different agencies were recognized for outstanding acts in 2015 which included Valor, Lifesaving, Investigations, Meritorious service and Humanitarian acts. A Medal of Honor was bestowed posthumously to the family of Everett Officer Glen Briley who died on duty on December 9th. Among the attendees were Boston Police Commissioner William Evans, Boston Police Superintendent -in-Chief William Gross and Massachusetts State Police Lieutenant Colonel Dermot Quinn. The award winners were joined by more than 200 family, friends and colleagues to celebrate the evening. The dinner opened with the National Anthem sung by Cambridge Police Lieutenant Pauline Wells, a performance by the IAPOA Pipes and Drums and the Goulding School of Irish step-dancing followed by a family style meal. It was a proud event for all. 
The Medal of Valor Award was presented to members of the Boston Police Youth Violence Strike Force for the March 2015 shooting of BPD Officer John Moynihan. Commissioner Evans accepted the award on behalf of the six officers and one State Trooper involved in this incident. 

 Photo 1)L-R IAPOA Vice President / Quincy Officer Robert Sweetland, Vice President / Mass. State Trooper Lorin Ehler, IAPOA President / Lynn Police Captain Mark O’Toole, Commissioner William Evans, Officer James O’Loughlin (BPD Emerald Society), Massachusetts State Police Lieut. Col. Dermot Quinn, Superintendent-in-Chief William Gross, Haverhill Police Officer Kevin Dorr, Lincoln Police Sergeant Paul Westlund and Donnalyn Sullivan, Middlesex Sheriff’s Office (retired). 

Photo 2) The family of Everett Police Officer Glen Briley accept the Medal of Honor award presented posthumously after his on duty death in December 2015. Everett Lieutenant Paul Strong spoke on behalf of the family.