Lynn officers prove their mettle, governor presents them with medals

Three Lynn police officers received the state?s highest law-enforcement honor Wednesday in recognition of their efforts in 2013 to subdue a disturbed West Lynn man who was ultimately fatally shot by one of the officers after he grabbed another officer?s gun.Officers John Bernard, Josh Hilton and Paul Scali were awarded the Trooper George L. Hanna Award for bravery by Gov. Deval Patrick in a State House ceremony. Hanna was a nine-year State Police veteran when the 36-year-old father of three was fatally shot in 1983 during an Auburn traffic stop.The Hanna Award is “the highest medal a Massachusetts law enforcement officer can receive,” according to the award website.?This is one of the most prestigious awards given in the Commonwealth,” said Police Chief Kevin Coppinger. Bernard, Scali and Hilton declined to comment on the award.On Sept. 5, 2013 the officers responded to a report of disturbance on O?Callaghan Way and found Denis Reynoso, an Iraq War veteran reportedly suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, “acting irrationally,” according to the Essex district attorney?s report, which cited five witnesses.In a letter Coppinger wrote nominating the three officers for the Hanna Award, the chief described Reynoso as “very loud and threatening” as Bernard and Scali attempted to speak with him after knocking on Reynoso?s door in the King?s Lynne housing complex.Bernard, according to the letter, started speaking to Reynoso and directed Scali to open the apartment?s rear door to admit Hilton.?The suspect then suddenly attacked Officer Bernard. In the ensuing struggle the suspect got control of Officer Bernard?s service weapon,” Coppinger wrote.According to the district attorney?s report, Reynoso fired Bernard?s weapon twice, deafening Scali. Hilton, according to the report, repeatedly yelled, “I am going to shoot him,” in order to warn Reynoso and Bernard, before firing a single shot.Coppinger summarized the reasons he nominated Bernard, Hilton and Scali for the Hanna Award.?The officers? devotion to duty led them to properly respond to a concerned public?s request for assistance,” he wrote. “Their empathy led them to establish a rapport with the party in question. They were courageous in dealing with the life-threatening situation that was suddenly thrust upon them. They were humane in immediately rendering medical aid to the injured party.”District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett in his report released in January concluded Reynoso put Bernard?s and Scali?s lives in danger when he gained control of Bernard?s weapon, “thus justifying the use of lethal force by a third officer.”Reynoso?s widow, Jessica Spinney, has challenged police accounts of the shooting and the DA?s conclusions. She joined 40 people for a protest march down Washington Street on the first anniversary of the shooting, vowing to not stop protesting her husband?s death “until someone is held responsible.”Hilton has been a police officer for nine years, Bernard for five years and Scali for one year. Scali had been on the job for eight days when the Reynoso incident occurred.?I think they used great judgement and their training. We could have had multiple officers killed that day. It is very unfortunate Mr. Reynoso died,” Coppinger said.