Saugus officer makes history

BOSTON – Lt. David Gecoya on Monday became the first person from the Saugus Police Department to be awarded the state?s highest honor a police officer can receive for bravery.The detective was given the Medal of Honor at the Trooper George L. Hanna Memorial Awards for his work during a March 2012 bank robbery on the Saugus-Malden line, in which Gecoya exchanged fire with suspects during a car chase, ending in the suspect?s death. Both Gecoya and Malden Police Det. Michael Casaletto, who assisted in the chase, received the Medal of Honor, and Malden Police Sgt. Richard Correale, Officer John Delaney and Officer Robert Selfridge received the Medal of Valor.Gecoya said equal credit was due to all the officers who were involved that day. “As a Massachusetts police officer, it?s a great honor to be recognized – but the entire three police departments need to be recognized for the before, during and after the (shooting),” said Gecoya.The award, named for a trooper who was shot and killed in the line of duty in 1983, recognizes police officers who display unwavering bravery in the face of real danger. The Hanna awards have high prestige in the law enforcement community: Gecoya was one of 18 municipal officers and four state troopers.One of the medals was awarded posthumously to Springfield Police officer Kevin Ambrose, who was shot and killed in the line of duty in June 2012. Ambrose?s wife and son were given a standing ovation as Governor Deval Patrick passed them his medal, and the House Chambers at the State House had a moment to remembers fallen officers while Massachusetts State Police bagpipers played “Amazing Grace.”?A police officer can never know the dangers ahead as he or she responds to a call,” said State House Undersecretary Anne Powers, undersecretary of the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, who emceed the event.Gecoya, who had a gun pointed at him from a car during the shootout in March 2012, knew laying down his life for his duty was a very real possibility that day.?I always knew there was a chance, but we trained for it,” said Gecoya after receiving his medal. “You always hope that you?re not in a position where your life is taken or you take somebody else?s. I was prepared that day as well as the other guys. But I feel blessed to be here.”Saugus Police Chief Domenic DiMella noted Gecoya was the first in Saugus to receive the award in its 30-year history.?His training and his experience kicked in and he was successful in the shootout. He was the one able to go home to his family and not the other way around,” said DiMella.DiMella was joined by Town Manager Scott Crabtree and more than a dozen Saugus police officers, as well as Gecoya?s family, to support him at the ceremony.Gecoya?s father, Tom Gecoya, said the large showing was a tribute to Saugus and to his son.?It?s a good thing for Saugus to have an officer like him,” he said.Gecoya has been on the Saugus Police Department since 1996. He has a bachelor?s degree from Fitchburg State University and a master?s degree in criminal justice from Western New England University.