The Vanderbilt Police Department recently held its annual awards presentation for 2008 – 2009.  Each year, the VPD recognizes fellow officers, civilian support personnel and members of the community for their dedication to duty and commitment to law enforcement and Vanderbilt University.  The Vanderbilt Police Department’s own “Station R” band played for the crowd which gathered at police headquarters for the event.  The following individuals received awards and were recognized during a special picnic luncheon to honor them.

Civilian awards included:

Citizen Service Award:  John Forcinelli
Employed at the Court Yard Café cafeteria, Forcinelli noticed an intoxicated patron acting suspiciously.  He continued to watch the patron who eventually stumbled to a table and began to load a magazine with bullets.  Due to Forcinelli quick thinking and attention to his surroundings, he contacted the proper authorities.  The patron was quickly arrested and found to be in possession of a loaded handgun, more than 150 rounds of ammunition, camouflage face paint and a knife.  Forcinelli’s actions in alerting authorities to a possible active shooter, may have saved many lives that evening at the Vanderbilt University Hospital.

Letter of Appreciation: Brian Brent, David Pope, Brian Davis
These gentlemen are all VUH employees and were getting off an elevator in the East Garage when they saw a lady struggling with a man and yelling for help.  The suspect turned and went after Davis’ girlfriend shoving her into the elevator.  Davis took the man to the ground and held him there with the help of the two men until VPD arrived. The suspect was a psychiatric patient who was being taken to the hospital for treatment.

Letter of Appreciation: F. Clark Williams
Williams works for the Office of the Dean of Students and has been a true leader on assisting VPD to get the Emergency Response plan updated and out to the Vanderbilt University community. He devoted numerous hours helping us draft a plan that would work well within the university with faculty and students. He was instrumental in helping get the project finalized and out the Vanderbilt community to help make this a safer campus.

Officer awards included:

Officer of the Year:  Officer Anthony Gordon

Civilian Employee of the Year: Nicole Jordan

Distinguished Service Medal: Detective Larry Reese and Officer Mike Lord (posthumously)

Meritorious Service Medal: Sergeant Roger Tidwell, Sergeant Rick Burr, MPO Horace Lanier, Officer James Morrell, and Officer Anthony Gordon

Community Service Award: Lieutenant Nola Brown and Sergeant Rick Burr

Commendation Award: Lieutenant Gary Duncan, Lieutenant Vivienne Irizarry, Lieutenant Davis Strange,            Lieutenant Walker Veal, Officer Jason Bates, Officer Rick Dean, Officer Mark Mandel, Officer Horace Lanier,     and Officer Mike Bessette

Contact: Zeva Edmondson, (615) 322-8875
zeva.edmondson@Vanderbilt.Edu