AMERICAN POLICE BEAT: JULY 2017 27 By Sal Giarratani A t the Bay State Chapter Free- doms Foun- dation’s 38th Annual Awards Luncheon, the Chapter pre- sented the Bay State Chap- ter’s first Heroes Award that day to two Boston police officers who helped save the life of a brother officer dur- ing a shootout in East Boston this past October. The two officers honored were Sgt. Norberto Perez and SWAT Team Officer Clifton Singletary. They were among the officers responding to a domestic when gunfire erupted and two officers were severely injured. One of the most danger- ous calls a police officer can respond to is a domestic. On October 12, 2016, in East Boston, Officers Richard Cintolo and Matt Morris responded to a domestic call for a fight between two roommates. When the officers arrived they were told that his room- mate was threatening him with a knife. The fight itself had been allegedly over a thermostat. Cintolo and Morris were met by the suspect who was wearing body armor and appeared to be dressed as a law enforcement official. The officers did a ‘pat frisk’ as the suspect kept telling them he was “one of them.” When the officers learned he was armed, the suspect pushed Cintolo, shot him three times in the neck, chest and arm, then shot Morris in the groin, severing his femoral artery. Despite an active shoot- ing scene in progress and bullets flying seemingly ev- erywhere, Sgt. Perez and Of- ficer Singletary were about to pull the two wounded officers out of harm’s way. Singletary reached into Morris’s wound and used his fingers to pinch the ar- tery as Sergeant Perez ap- plied a tourniquet that saved Morris’s life. Perez, by the way, learned how to apply a tourniquet at a training class. Boston Police Commis- sioner credits the quick ac- tion of both Perez and Sin- gletary in saving Morris’s life that fateful October night. Every call is unknown. Most end peacefully but some like this one last Oc- tober don’t. No police officer died that night because of the courage of police officers to respond to the danger, assist the wounded and get the bad guy. A few nights ago recently, I witnessed the Massachu- setts Transit Police Depart- ment respond to a fight in progress. Arriving, they found their guy quickly. Attempting to end the threat, officers gave command orders to comply. When he didn’t, only then were police forced to put hands on the culprit. During the encounter, a young male started taping the struggle on his phone, which is now a pretty stan- dard thing in Boston and elsewhere. I retired as a police of- ficer four years ago this past April and I have to say I was happy to have served for 28 years but even happier now to be a retired police officer. I have even become a movie extra and have played fake cops. However, there is little fun in trying to protect and serve in an environment where the police are always suspected of wrong doing and get little respect from many. This has become the sad reality of police work in 2017. Police officers risk their lives every day they put on their uniform. They are the good guys that keep order in a society that is often found in disorder. Where would we really be without these unsung heroes? Sal Giarratani is a retired sergeant with the Massachusetts Mental Health Police in Boston, MA with 28 years of service, and is also a member of the Bay State Chapter of Freedoms Foundation. Sgt. Norberto Perez (left), Boston Police Dept. Commissioner William Evans and Officer Clifton Singletary. Photo by Sal Giarratani. Just outstanding SWAT heroes survived the shootout ZZZERVWRQOHDWKHUFRP Fine Leather Belts and Accessories ERVWRQ Crafted with Pride In the USA Since 1938  (DVWZRRG'ULYH 6WHUOLQJ,/  3KRQH  )D[   Coban Video Mic Holder NEW WE HAVE YOU COVERED! Off Duty Pants Belt 6505 - 1 ¾” 6582 - 1 ½ “ Panasonic Toughbook Arbitrator Mic Holder Sam Browne Duty Belt 6501 - 2 ¼” (Belt & Accessories Sold Separately) 4313-1 Plain Leather 4313-3 Basketweave Look for us at the Police Security Expo - June 27 & 28 in Booth 1827 4312C-1 Plain Leather 4312C-2 Clarino 4312C-3 Basketweave Also Available