Photo: Bryan Goodchild
Two members of the UMass Chan Medical School Public Safety Department are being recognized by the Massachusetts Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators for going above and beyond in their commitment to serve and protect the campus community.
Deputy Chief Nancy O’Loughlin was recognized with the Sean Collier Award for Innovations in Community Oriented Policing for her work bringing the campus community together. O’Loughlin helped launch the annual Stuff-a-Cruiser Thanksgiving food drive and leads the UMass Chan Department of Public Safety’s Polar Plunge team.
“Anytime that you receive acknowledgement of the work you do every day, it is very humbling and reaffirms why we do what we do,” O’Loughlin said.
The Sean Collier Award, which celebrates a strong commitment to the community, is given in memory of Massachusetts Institute of Technology Officer Sean Collier, who was killed in the line of duty on April 18, 2013, in the aftermath of the Boston Marathon bombing.
“There’s a big ‘Advancing Together’ sign on campus, and we can’t do that without lifting each other up.”
“Since making it a goal to have our department actively engaged in the community, the entire department, and specifically Deputy Chief O’Loughlin, have put forth a concerted effort to engage our community. The deputy chief volunteers so much of her own time and energy to ensure the success of our projects,” said Chief C. Leon Pierce.
Officer Cameron Caldwell is the recipient of the Exemplary Service Award for his investigative work and lifesaving intervention on a case early last year. The award is designed to acknowledge an individual’s performance that goes beyond basic job expectations and contributes to the department’s favorable standing on campus and in the community.
“We work together as a team no matter what we do. The command staff is always there for us and has our backs. Being a patrolman and being nominated for this award says a lot about the support we receive here at UMass Chan,” Caldwell said.
The investigation for which Caldwell received the award was his first assigned case after joining UMass Chan in early 2024. He had previously worked with the Spencer and East Brookfield police departments.
Chief Pierce said, “Officer Caldwell has the right attitude, demeanor and maturity level for a police officer. Once assigned the investigation for which he won the award, he was relentless in locating the individual responsible.”
Lieutenant Gregory Markiewicz, the 2018 recipient of the Collier Award, nominated O’Loughlin and Caldwell for their respective awards.
“Recognition is important and it’s important for us to acknowledge the people who keep our campus safe. The first thing Chief Pierce said to me when I was promoted to lieutenant was ‘Take care of your people.’ So that’s what I’m doing,” Markiewicz said. “There’s a big ‘Advancing Together’ sign on campus, and we can’t do that without lifting each other up.”
The Massachusetts Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators awards and scholarships ceremony was held at the McCarthy Center at Framingham State University on Jan. 10.
