12/21/2021
By Ed Brennen

Three members of the UMass Lowell Police Department were recently honored for their outstanding work by the Massachusetts Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators.

Officers Dan Dolan and Brian Ethier and Director of Police Dispatch and Security Operations Ken Wilson were among 14 campus police officers and administrators from across the state recognized at the organization’s annual awards ceremony, held at the UMass Lowell Inn & Conference Center.

Dolan received an Outstanding Personal Contribution Award for his work as the UMLPD firearms instructor. He developed a comprehensive emergency action plan for firearms training, updated the range’s first aid kit and created an emergency action plan manual that has been requested by other agencies. He also worked with the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Advanced Response Team to create a landing zone for medical helicopters at the range in case of an emergency.

“Officer Dolan’s forethought and dedication may save the life of a campus or municipal police officer in the event of a training incident,” said UML Police Chief Randolph Brashears.

Ethier received a Heroic Action Award for his off-duty rescue of eight neighbors from their burning home in Tyngsboro, Massachusetts, in August 2020. Ethier ran to the burning home and, upon hearing screams from inside and seeing that the doorway was blocked by flames, he smashed a front window and helped five children and their two grandparents escape. Realizing an elderly woman was still trapped inside, Ethier worked with a good Samaritan to break another window to save the woman, who was rescued once additional help arrived. 

“Had it not been for the quick, selfless and courageous response of Officer Ethier, several lives could have been lost,” Brashears said. 

Wilson received an Administrative Initiative Award for his work in upgrading the department’s radio system. Wilson chaired a committee that studied the matter, which led to the university investing in a state-of-the-art radio system that provides better coverage for officers. He also worked with the Lowell Police Department to access its encrypted radio channels so that UML officers would be safer while responding to back up city officers on emergency calls.

“Director Wilson’s dedication and persistence created a safer environment for both UMass Lowell Police officers and students,” Brashears said.

The annual awards ceremony was canceled last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so this year’s ceremony recognized exemplary work from both 2020 and 2021. Officers and administrators from Babson College, Bentley University, Brandeis University, Endicott College, Tufts University and North Shore Community College were also honored.

“I’d like to thank each and every one of those officers and the colleagues, dispatchers and support staff who assisted them,” Brashears said during the ceremony. “I’d also like to thank each of the individuals who took the time to recognize exemplary work on their campuses and submit nominations for awards. The nominations are a testament to the respect we all have for our peers.”