National Law Enforcement Memorial and Museum Announces May 2021 Officer of the Month

Middletown, CT, Police Officer Goes Above and Beyond for 5-Year-Old Boy’s Birthday

Officer Emilio Magnano of the Middletown (CT) Police Department
Officer Emilio Magnano, Middletown (CT) Police Department

WASHINGTON, DC – The National Law Enforcement Memorial and Museum (NLEMM) is pleased to announce that the May 2021 Officer of the Month is Officer Emilio Magnano of the Middletown (CT) Police Department. This resource officer went above and beyond the call of duty to give a 5-year-old boy a birthday he’ll never forget.
Officer Magnano is the resource officer at Middletown High School, where one of the school’s employees mentioned her son’s upcoming police-themed birthday party to him. After initially asking some officers on-duty if they could stop by the party, the department ended up having an extremely busy day.
When Magnano heard that the officers on-duty were unable to make an appearance, he took matters into his own hands. After receiving permission from the department, Magnano suited up on his day off and headed to the party.
In a letter to the police department, the boy’s mother wrote, “To see the look of amazement on all the kids’ faces was incredible. Even my 85-year-old grandfather was pleased to see an officer do this great deed for the community.”
Magnano presented the boy with a police officer costume when he arrived, garnering even more excitement from the 5-year-old boy.
The letter finished with, “Thank you to Officer Magnano for creating this special memory for my son. And thank you to Middletown Police Department for all that you do!”
“We would like to first congratulate Officer Magnano for this award, as well as thank him for his efforts in serving his community,” said Marcia Ferranto, CEO of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. “His commitment as a School Resource Officer is admirable and we are so grateful for the opportunity to once again highlight the incredible things members of law enforcement are doing to inspire our young people.”
Police Unity Tour
The Officer of the Month Award Program is sponsored by the Police Unity Tour and recognizes federal, state, and local officers who distinguish themselves through exemplary law enforcement service and devotion to duty.