Page 12 - Summer 2017 Final
P. 12
Women’s Law Enforcement Group
Honors Sergeant Donna Losardo
Earlier this year, Sergeant Donna M. Losardo widespread Taser Issue/Recertification Program.
was presented with the Excellence in Performance The sergeant has personally trained hundreds
Award during the Spirit of MAWLE Award Ceremony of department members in Taser issue and
held at Stonehill College. Sergeant Losardo and recertification classes. Sergeant Losardo has also
her fellow award recipients were recognized been instrumental in the department’s defensive
by the Massachusetts Association of Women in tactics and de-escalation training programs.
Law Enforcement (MAWLE) for excelling in the
areas of Community Service, Courage, Excellence In October 2016, the MSP hosted the First
in Performance, Leadership, and Mentoring. Annual New England State Police Administrators
Conference - Women in Law Enforcement
Leadership Conference at the
Academy. The mission was to promote
professionalism among women who serve
in the field of law enforcement through
education, training, mentoring and
encouragement. More than 160 female
state troopers from all six New England
State Police agencies attended. Sergeant
Losardo was instrumental in the planning
and logistics of this successful conference.
Sergeant Losardo has also
dedicated much of her own time to
fundraising events in her community
as well as those which support the
Sergeant Losardo, a 24-year member families of fallen law enforcement officers.
of the Massachusetts State Police, has In 2012, Sergeant Losardo completed the
dedicated the majority of her career to training, Police Unity Tour with Chapter 37, which begins
and, in fact, will serve as drill sergeant for each year on May 9th. Chapter 37 starts with a
the upcoming 83rd Recruit Training Troop. Memorial ceremony at the World Trade Center in
In 1996, Sergeant Losardo became a drill honor of the 72 law enforcement officers killed in
instructor at the State Police Academy, a position the line of duty on Sept. 11, 2001. The Chapter then
that required tremendous commitment and rides to New Jersey to join with the rest of the Tour,
dedication; she worked 16-hour shifts for months a four-day, 300-mile cycling event with more than
on end. During her ten-year stay at the Academy, 1,200 riders. The Tour ends in Washington, D.C. at
Sergeant Losardo advanced from assistant drill the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial.
instructor during the 73rd Recruit Training Troop, Sergeant Losardo also has twice participated
to platoon leader during the 74th and 77th Recruit in the first Springfield Police Department Ride to
Training Troops, to senior drill instructor for the 78th. Remember, a charity event organized to honor
In July 2016, Sergeant Losardo returned to Springfield Officer Kevin Ambrose, killed in the
the Academy to spearhead the department’s first line of duty on June 4, 2012. The ride begins at
Tower Square in Springfield and travels 106 miles,
F r en c h·a n d·E le c t r ic·B l ue·S umm er·2017·p a g e·12