ROCKLAND — Three Rockland police officers were honored for their actions on September 29, 2016 during an attempted kidnapping on of a woman, Chief Bruce Boucher announced Friday, Jan. 13 in a news release.

Sgt. Matthew Lindahl, Officer Alexander Gaylor and Officer Addison Cox received the department’s “Meritorious Service Award.”

"This award is one which recognizes Rockland officers who perform acts of bravery, heroism and/or make significant contributions to the law enforcement profession," said Boucher.

On the night of Sept. 29, Lindahl and the officers were out patrolling when, at approximately 12:34 a.m., Lindahl observed a vehicle that appeared to be stopped in the southbound travel lane of Main Street near the intersection of Warren Street. As he got closer to the vehicle, it traveled forward and then pulled over to the side of the road and parked at an odd, 45 degree angle.

Lindahl could see people moving around inside the vehicle. As he drove closer to the vehicle, he decided to check the well-being of the occupants. When he got within 30 feet, the vehicle backed up into the roadway directly toward Lindahl’s cruiser, then accelerated away at a high rate of speed. Lindahl then observed the vehicle operating erratically and at excessive speed on Union Street.

Lindahl activated his emergency lights to stop the vehicle. The vehicle operator refused to stop. Based on Lindahl’ s observations, the hour of the day, weather and traffic conditions, he decided to pursuit the vehicle. As Lindahl was pursuing the vehicle, Gaylor and Cox, together in a separate cruiser, joined the pursuit as the secondary vehicle.

Lindhal, Gaylor and Cox pursued the vehicle south on Union, west on Pleasant Street and across Broadway before the vehicle crashed on Pleasant near Luce Avenue.

As the driver attempted to flee the scene on foot, he was apprehended by Gaylor and Cox. Lindahl checked on the female passenger to determine her condition.

Police determined that the woman had been kidnapped by the male operator. The victim sustained physical injuries during the kidnapping, as well as inflicting physical injuries on the assailant. Police also determined that during the police pursuit, the victim called 911 and reported to dispatch that she had been kidnapped.

The Rockland Police Department Award Committee’s review of the incident determined the officers "demonstrated an extremely high degree of professionalism," Boucher said.

"From the moment, the pursuit was initiated until the time the vehicle crashed, these officers performed flawlessly. The entire shift worked as a team to bring this situation to a successful resolution," Boucher further states in the release.

"This Meritorious Service Award is given for service rendered beyond the course of duty, where a member, because of their diligence and perseverance, performs an exemplary duty in which a crime is prevented, life saved, property protected, or a dangerous criminal is apprehended. It is bestowed upon these officers for service above and beyond the ordinary call of duty."

Lindahl has been with the Rockland Police Department since 1997. He graduated from the Maine Criminal Justice Academy in 1998. He has held a variety of positions within the department since he was hired, including field training officer, drug recognition expert, CIT Member, and is a certified MCJA instructor. He has been a member of the department's bicycle patrol team since 1998 and harbor patrol unit since 2007.

Gaylor started his career with the Rockland Police Department in April 2014. He is a May 2011 graduate of the Vermont Police Academy. Prior to joining the Rockland Police Department, he was a police officer for the town of Brandon, Vt., Police Department from February 2011 to his hiring with Rockland. Gaylor has an associate’s degree in criminal justice from River Valley Community College in New Hampshire.

Cox has been with the Rockland Police Department since April 2016. He will be attending the Maine Criminal Justice Academy basic law enforcement training program later this month. Prior to joining the Rockland Police Department, Cox, a veteran, was on active duty with the Marine Corps from 2012 to 2016.

Reach Sarah Shepherd at news@penbaypilot.com