Police Officer of the Month, June 2009

The Long Island Shields are proud to give Police Officer of the Month Awards to Police Officer Hector Bourren and Police Officer Collen LaMontagne. They demonstrated bravery in the face of danger, and their quick-thinking and professionalism protected both property and life in a Garden City Park home.

The two police officers walked into a situation that can accurately be called explosive. It was January this year, and Officer LaMontagne was called to a burglary-in-progress. She arrived at the scene and spotted the subject. Officer LaMontagne attempted to make contact, but the subject walked away from her into the rear of the house, out of sight.

Officer LaMontange next located and spoke with the 911-caller. The caller had a son. and this son's ex-girlfriend was on a rampage. She had already used a pair of scissors to carve up the complainant’s car. She also shattered a glass door to break into the caller's house. Now she was trying to set the house on fire, and she was pouring lighter fluid onto a blaze.

Officer Hector Bourren arrived, and along with Officer LaMontagne entered the rear basement through the shattered glass door. The officers observed a plastic container of barbecue lighter fluid at the bottom of the steps. The officers searched the basement. They completed the search and continued to the upstairs and the first floor. They immediately smelled smoke and continued to search for the subject. The officers located the subject in a first floor bedroom. They observed her pouring lighter fluid on the fire and ordered the subject to raise her hands and face them. Instead the subject reached into her pocket and pulled out a pair of scissors continuing to ignoring the officer’s order. The subject became distracted by the fire and the large amount of smoke filling the room.

Officers Bourren and LaMontagne tackled her, a fight ensued, and Officer LaMontage was injured. The police officers nonetheless disarmed and handcuffed the subject. They led her away from the premises. They also called the fire department.

As they waited for the fire department, the Officers battled the flames. The fire department arrived and extinguished the fire. The Arson/Bomb squad also arrived, and conducted a thorough investigation.

In the end, the subject was charged with burglary in the first degree, arson in the first degree, and several other major felonies. Tonight we thank Officer LaMontage and Officer Bourren, and the many other officers involved in this incident, for their courage and dedication. It is the honor and privilege of the Long Island Shields to present P.O. Hector Bourren and P.O. Coleen LaMontage with the Police Officer of the Month for April, 2009.