The ‘Officer of the Month’ award recognizes the efforts of an individual with the rank of patrol officer from Division or a Special Unit, who has demonstrated exceptional dedication in the performance of his/her duties during the previous month. I am very pleased to announce that our selection for this month’s LPD ‘Officer of the Month’ is Officer Vicente Fresco, who is assigned to the 2nd Division. This nomination was submitted by Sergeant Manuel Torres and seconded by Lieutenant Michael O’Connell.
As noted in Sgt. Torres’ written nomination, “Officer Fresco is exactly what the 2nd Division exemplifies. He is always on time, maintains a positive attitude, and never complains about the route he is working. He consistently seeks opportunities to improve by asking questions following incidents and is highly receptive to feedback.” Sgt. Torres highlighted some recent incidents that highlight his great work ethic and professionalism: “Just this last month he was involved in pretty serious incidents where he displayed sound tactics, strong communication skills and professionalism. At scenes that I have responded to, I have observed him actively communicating with follow officers regarding response strategies and call handling, demonstrating both leadership and accountability.” Regarding a domestic violence incident on July 24, Sgt. Torres wrote: “Officer Fresco responded to a domestic incident on Newpark St. in which a firearm was reportedly displayed. Officers made a forced entry into the residence, and Officer Fresco subsequently prepared the search warrant. During the search, several BB guns were recovered, including one matching the description provided by the victim.”
On July 29, Officer Fresco responded to a call on Maplewood Road involving a missing juvenile: “A parent reported that their 14-year-old child had taken drugs and fled the home. Officer Fresco helped locate the juvenile, who was subsequently transported to the hospital. Throughout the incident, he demonstrated compassion and professionalism in his interactions with both the juvenile and the parents.” Sgt. Torres also highlighted Officer Fresco’s actions during a critical incident on August 6: “Officer Fresco responded to CVS on South Common Street for what was initially reported as a party-down call and was later determined to be a homicide. Once he recognized the nature of the incident, he promptly notified supervisors and followed all directions regarding crime scene security and preservation. On his own initiative, he entered the CVS, spoke with employees regarding surveillance footage and any suspicious activity that had been observed, and canvassed the surrounding area to identify residences with security cameras that could assist responding detectives.”
Sgt. Torres concluded by noting, “Officer Fresco represents everything the Lynn Police Department stands for. He is a critical thinker, a self-motivated officer, and an outstanding candidate for Officer of the Month.”
Congratulations and thank you to Officer Fresco for a job well done!