Staff Reports
The Exchange Club of the Tonawandas recently honored City of Tonawanda Police Lt. Scott Sheehan with its Officer of the Year award.
Sheehan reached all four of the 2009 police department goals.
Among the goals was increasing the police station security and Internet efficiency. Sheehan achieved the latter by separating the department’s network server from city hall’s server. The police department is now independent of any other network, securing all of the department files and communications.
In addition, Sheehan increased the efficiency of Internet use by allowing much faster access to investigative material.
Sheehan assisted in reaching another goal by participating in the department’s first Citizens Police Academy. He gave the academy a presentation on the department’s auxiliary police and underwater recovery team.
The fourth goal was achieved by Sheehan and the auxiliary police, who refurbished the police garage bays that now house the auxiliary police underwater recovery team. He was also responsible for the purchase and outfitting of an underwater recovery trailer, essential to the team.
In addition, Sheehan was honored for his quick thinking and response to a near-tragedy at Canal Fest when a stroller rolled down a hill and into the canal. Sheehan dove into the water, along with underwater team member Bill Ferguson, because it was unclear if there was a child in the stroller. Fortunately, the children were safe on shore, but Sheehan rescued the father of the child who had been chasing the stroller and fell into the canal.
Sheehan was hired on July 24, 2000, promoted to detective on April 13, 2004, and to lieutenant on March 17, 2008.
He and his wife, Jackie, have two sons, Ryan and Brendon and a daughter, Megan.
