Police Patrol Officer Brendan Behan earns the "Crisis Interventional Team Of Rhode Island First Responder Of The Year” award for his outstanding, compassionate service to #MiddletownRI. Thanks to Behan and all our emergency responders for their work.
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CONTACT: Matt Sheley at (401) 842-6543 or msheley@middletownri.com
BEHAN HONORED FOR ELITE CRISIS RESPONSE
MIDDLETOWN, R.I. (SEPTEMBER 3, 2024) – Middletown Police Patrol Officer Brendan Behan is the “Crisis Interventional Team Of Rhode Island First Responder Of The Year” for the East Bay region.
To standing applause, the veteran of the department was commended loudly by a packed house in the council chambers of Town Hall Tuesday night, a crowd including a number of police officers and firefighters. In addition to a Town Council citation, Behan received a town tile as a show of thanks for his work.
Police Chief Anthony Pesare praised Behan for his constant efforts to Middletown, symbolic of the hard work done in the community everyday by emergency responders.
In his remarks, Pesare noted Middletown Police remain one of two departments in the state that have completed the “One Mind Campaign Pledge” offered by the International Association of Chiefs of Police.
A national program that seeks to unite law enforcement, mental health organizations and communities, the goal is for officers to better identify those experiencing mental health issues and provide them with the help that they need.
“The award recognizes Officer Behan as one of the champions across the state, who was instrumental in defusing situations and bringing them to a peaceful conclusion,” Pesare said. “Lt. David Bissonnette nominated him and in his nomination he said ‘I have witnessed him on several occasions, both in person and during body camera reviews, deescalate situations could have easily gone in a different direction. He remains calm and treats people with kindness, empathy and respect and people respond well to him."
Council President Paul M. Rodrigues said he’s seen Behan’s great work first hand and came away totally impressed. Describing how he was out in his backyard one day working when there was a moped accident nearby, with Behan one of the emergency responders first to the scene.
“What Chief Pesare just said, his compassion, his respect and the way he cared for that individual who was really injured…I have to tell you, I walked away going ‘I am proud of this officer and this department’ for the way he handled himself and the individual,” Rodrigues said. “We are very fortunate and thank you for what you do.”
Document Link: https://mdl.town/Behan