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Ofcs. Edward Arena and Daniel Brogan Named Jan and Feb Employees of the Month
 

On Tuesday January 19, 2005, Officers Edward Arena and Daniel Brogan were dispatched to address a report of a suicidal female who had taken an excessive amount of prescription medications. This woman had multiple previous suicide attempts, each time making a more serious attempt. After gaining access to the residence with the assistance of Natick Fire personnel, Arena and Brogan moved to the second floor and observed the female sitting upright on her bed which lay low to the floor. Officer Arena engaged her in conversation and tried to get more details about the call. Scattered about the bed were many sheets of paper and when asked their content the female tried to retrieve them, but not before Officer Arena was able to get a sample. The letters appeared to be suicide notes. As Natick Fire personnel continued to try to convince her to go to the hospital, she adamantly refused to cooperate. She then suddenly reached beneath the bedding with her right hand pulled out what appeared to be a semi-automatic pistol and placed it to her right temple. Officers Brogan and Arena immediately drew their weapons and commanded the female to immediately drop hers as Sgt. St. Hilaire moved other emergency responders to a safe location. Officer Brogan kept his weapon trained on the female and verbally drew her attention towards him as Officer Arena moved about the room to ascertain the authenticity of her weapon. The female pulled the slide open and let it close. Officer Arena determined the weapon may not be authentic and reported that to Officer Brogan. Officer Brogan continued to verbally demand compliance from the female and through tone and inflection was able to distract her, such that Officer Arena was able to lunge across the bed, grab her right arm and remove the weapon from her grasp. She was then restrained and placed in handcuffs by Officers Arena and Brogan.

In reviewing the circumstances involved, the incident may have been an attempt at what is termed "suicide by cop," where someone pretends to be a lethal threat to an officer or officers, leaving them with no choice but to employ deadly force against the perceived threat.

Officers Arena and Brogan exercised prudent judgment and exceptional discipline under very difficult circumstances which may well have escalated to the point where they would have been completely justified in employing deadly force against a person who, in reality, posed no threat to them at all.

Officers Arena and Brogan are hereby officially commended and named Employee of the Month for January and February respectively.

Dennis R. Mannix
Chief of Police