TEAM Award

The Team Excellence and Merit (TEAM) Award was created by District Attorney Early in 2019 to recognize public safety employees who go above and beyond the call of duty. Over the years, the office has recognized more than 250 police officers, dispatchers, firefighters, paramedics, EMTs, medical personnel and civilians who’ve worked together to come to the aid of another in their community.

See below for a full listing of all of the TEAM Award recipients. To nominate someone for this award, contact the Worcester County District Attorney’s Office at (508) 755-8601 or email info.worcesterda@mass.gov.

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man or woman who points out how the strong man or woman stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man or woman who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends him or herself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he or she fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his or her place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”

Dec09

DA Early Honors First Responders for Frozen Lake Rescue

For Immediate Release Contact: Julia Keane 508-368-7226 or 774-530-1207 PHILLIPSTON – Today, Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr. recognized first responders whose swift and coordinated actions led to the successful rescue of two adults who fell through the ice on Queen Lake earlier this year. Members of the responding agencies – including Phillipston […]

Oct28

DA Early Honors First Responders & Town Employees for Rescuing Injured Man in Douglas Woods

For Immediate Release Contact: Julia Keane 508-368-7226 or 774-530-1207 DOUGLAS – Today, Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr. recognized a group of first responders and town employees, including police officers, firefighters, dispatchers, and highway department personnel, who worked together to rescue an injured man lost in the forest in Douglas this summer. 21 […]

Jul22

DA Early Honors Webster Police Officer, EMS and Dispatcher for Role in Emergency Childbirth

For Immediate Release Contact: Julia Keane 508-368-7226 or 774-530-1207 WEBSTER – Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr. today recognized a Webster Police Officer and Webster EMS for their quick and coordinated response during an unexpected at-home childbirth earlier this year. Webster Police Officer Melissa Bak, Webster Emergency Medical Services Lt. Austin Bacigalupo, Paramedic […]

May29

DA Early Honors Worcester Police Officers, Firefighters for Rescuing Father and Toddler from Fire: Crews Respond to Two Fires at Same Time

For Immediate Release Contact: Julia Keane 508-368-7226 or 774-530-1207 WORCESTER – Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr. today recognized Worcester Police Officers and Firefighters who assisted residents in two simultaneous fires, including rescuing a father and daughter trapped on the roof of a burning apartment building. Officers Christopher Fazah, Nicholas Kalil, Johny Nunez, […]

Mar27

DA Early Honors Northborough Firefighters Who Rescued Woman Trapped in the Ice

For Immediate Release Contact: Lindsay Corcoran (508) 368-7252 or (774) 670-8811 NORTHBOROUGH – Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr. today recognized a group of Northborough firefighters who rescued a woman after she became stuck in the ice and mud while chasing her dog. Northborough Fire Chief David Parenti and Firefighters Dante Brindisi, Ethan Ward, […]

Jan27

DA Early Honors Paxton First Responders, Park Rangers, and Dispatchers for Rescuing Injured Hiker

Jan. 27, 2025 For Immediate Release Contact: Lindsay Corcoran (508) 368-7252 or (774) 670-8811 PAXTON – Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr. today recognized a group of Paxton first responders, including firefighters, police and dispatchers, and state Department of Conservation and Recreation park rangers, who worked together to rescue an injured hiker in […]

Sep23

DA Early Honors Hardwick and West Brookfield First Responders for Reviving Man in Cardiac Arrest

For Immediate Release Contact: Lindsay Corcoran (508) 368-7252 or (774) 670-8811 NEW BRAINTREE – First responders from Hardwick and West Brookfield were recognized by Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr. today for reviving a man who had suffered a heart attack at his home in January. The District Attorney’s Team Excellence and Merit […]

Jul25

DA Early Honors Auburn Police Officer, Dispatchers, and K9 for Search and Rescue of Missing 12-Year-Old

For Immediate Release Contact: Lindsay Corcoran (508) 368-7252 or (774) 670-8811 AUBURN – The Auburn Police Officers, including K9 Biza, and dispatchers who all worked together on a cold night in January to bring a missing 12-year-old home were honored by Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr. today. The group all received the […]

May22

DA Early Honors Shrewsbury First Responders for Reviving Man in Cardiac Arrest

For Immediate Release Contact: Lindsay Corcoran (508) 368-7252 or (774) 670-8811 SHREWSBURY – A group of Shrewsbury first responders were recognized by Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr. today for reviving a man whose heart had stopped beating due to cardiac arrest last July. The District Attorney’s Team Excellence and Merit – TEAM […]

Apr10

DA Early Honors Webster Dispatchers, Officers for Rescuing Missing Boy with Autism

For Immediate Release Contact: Lindsay Corcoran (508) 368-7252 or (774) 670-8811  WEBSTER – A group of dispatchers and police officers were recognized by Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr. today for averting what could have been a tragedy when they quickly worked to locate a 4-year-old boy with autism, finding him partially in […]

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