For Immediate Release

Friday, Nov. 20, 2015

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

Methuen Police Officer Thomas R. Torrisi Jr. Receives 2015 Police Officer of the Year Award

METHUEN — Chief Joseph Solomon and the Methuen Police Department are pleased to announce that Officer Thomas R. Torrisi Jr. was awarded the 2015 Police Officer of the Year Award by the Methuen Exchange Club at a ceremony on Wednesday, Nov. 18.

Earlier this year in February, Officer Torrisi responded to a report of a female in cardiac arrest. Upon arrival, he utilized his department AED to revive the woman and, ultimately, save her life.

Christine Prescott, the woman whose life was saved, also attended the ceremony and personally thanked Officer Torrisi on behalf of her family and her young son.

“There are no words that could possibly describe how thankful I am to be here,” Prescott said. “When I was at the hospital, I was told by the nurses that I asked for my son 50 times. I can never imagine my life without him or his life without me. He is my absolute everything, so thank you for letting me live that day.”

Chief Solomon presented the award to Officer Torrisi Jr., who has been a full-time officer since 1993.

“We are lucky to have such dedicated department members like Officer Torrisi and I am beyond proud to call him one of our own,” Chief Solomon said. “Thanks to his hard work and quick response, this story has a happy ending. A life was saved, and a mother got to go home to her family.”

Officer Torrisi is currently assigned to the Methuen Police Department’s Patrol Division, and has been a member of the Methuen Police Department Honor Guard since its inception. Previously, he was a Sexual Assault Investigator for many years.

Officer Torrisi graduated from Northern Essex Community College in 1987. Then, in 1990 he became an auxiliary officer with the Methuen Police Department and then a reserve officer before becoming a full-time officer. He graduated from Franklin Pierce College in 1997.

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