The 7th Police District Advisory Council last week named Officer Ellen Callan as the 2021 Officer of the Year.
Callan was honored on Thursday at a ceremony at Randi’s Restaurant and Bar.
On Jan. 1, 2022 at about 2:20 a.m., Callan responded to a radio assignment of a person with a gun in the area of 500 Avon St. The suspect allegedly placed a loaded handgun to the head of another man. As Callan arrived, she observed a man fitting the description. He entered a dark Acura, which then pulled away from a residence on the block.
Callan signaled for the vehicle to stop but the suspect began to drive away from the area. She followed the vehicle to 100 Tomlinson Road, where it crashed into several parked vehicles. The man exited the vehicle and fled on foot, with Callan in a brief foot pursuit. The male was ordered to the ground and detained by Callan. The suspect was brought to the location of the crime and positively identified by the victim. A handgun, observed in the vehicle, was later recovered by Northeast Detectives with a search warrant. The defendant was charged with aggravated assault and other crimes related to his actions.
Callan, who works “last out,” entered the Police Academy in 2006. She was initially assigned to the 24th District. In June 2015, she was assigned to the 7th District.
The 7th PDAC began its Police Officer of the Year program in 2002. Each platoon lieutenant nominates one officer, and the members of the PDAC vote for a winner.
Also nominated for this award were officers William Andrews and Ernest Griffin, who was the 2020 winner.
Among those in attendance were Capt. Steven O’Brien, commander of the 7th District; state Reps. Ed Neilson and Martina White; Sen. Tina Tartaglione; and an aide to City Councilman Brian O’Neill.
A disappointed Tartaglione bid farewell to the PDAC, as redistricting will move the 2nd Senatorial District out of the 7th Police District. Tartaglione introduced Sen.-elect Jim Dillon, who will represent the 5th Senatorial District. ••
