Lt. James Walsh Named 2012 Officer of the Year

The police lieutenant who led the department’s response in October to a man barricaded in his home with a rifle was named Officer of the Year Monday by the city’s Police Commission.

James Walsh, who was promoted to the rank of lieutenant in July, also performed outstandingly at several other incidents during the year, said Police Chief James Kulhawik during the commission’s January meeting in Police Headquarters.

“The deputy chief and I reviewed Officer of the Month (awards) for 2010,” Kulhawik said, “and it was clear once we looked at everything that there was really only one choice for Officer of the Year for 2012.”

Walsh has led the department’s day shift patrol operations since his promotion to lieutenant.

“If there’s a serious call that happens and (Deputy Chief David Wrinn and I) know that Jim’s responding, we both look at each other and say, ‘O.K. We don’t have to worry about it because he’s the best.’ “

During the October incident, police were advised that a man, later identified as William Loeffel, was inside a two-family house at 4 Hillside Pl. with a rifle and he intended to kill himself.

The police response quickly ramped after a dispatcher contacted Loeffel by phone and he threatened to shoot anyone he saw. Loeffel said he would fire a warning shot and officers at the scene reported by radio they heard a shot fired.

The house is next door to Benjamin Franklin school, and Walsh ordered dispatchers to contact officials there and lock it down. Walsh also ordered the city to use a reverse 911 system that could contact every phone number in the neighborhood and advise occupants they should remain inside.

Police negotiator Lt. Shawn Wong Won contacted Loeffel by phone, and about an hour and 15 minutes later, Loeffel agreed to exit his residence unarmed and be taken into custody.

Police said Loeffel had a Remington 700 bolt action rifle with an attached scope loaded with .308 caliber, full metal-jacketed cartridges.

During Monday's meeting, Wong Won and Walsh received the department's Distinguished Service Award for their actions that day.