AUSTINTOWN Police officer to receive rescue ribbon

The lieutenant will be the first person to receive the honor.
By IAN HILL
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
AUSTINTOWN -- Police Lt. Robert Gavalier was just biding his time when he first spoke to the man with a shotgun April 4.
The man had written a suicide note and told his wife he was planning to kill himself. He was standing in his bathroom in his Raccoon Road home with the shotgun in his mouth.
As the lieutenant on duty for Austintown Township police, Gavalier was one of the officers to respond to a call for help from the man's wife. When they realized the man had a gun, most of the officers left the home.
Chose to stay: Gavalier, however, decided to stay and talk with the man until the police negotiator arrived.
From the dining room, Gavalier spoke with the man about his family and his health.
"I was trying to tell him it's not worth it, he has a son," Gavalier said.
About 12 minutes later, Gavalier persuaded the man to come out of the bathroom. The man put the gun down and agreed to go a hospital.
Gavalier breathed a sigh of relief. "I was just glad that it was over," he said.
Gavalier's work to save the man will be recognized at the township trustees' meeting Monday, when he receives the Austintown Township Police District Rescue Ribbon. He will be the first person to receive the ribbon.
Part of program: A plaque on the wall of the Austintown Township police headquarters states that the ribbon is for "any employee whose actions result in rescuing human life from an extremely hazardous situation." The ribbon is part of the Austintown police commendation program created last year.
Police Chief Gordon Ellis said Gavalier is the first officer to do something worthy of the ribbon. Ellis credited Gavalier with saving the suicidal man's life and praised his ability to stay calm in high pressure situations.
"He blends composure and fairness with law enforcement," Ellis said, adding that Gavalier has the "ability to make you feel at ease."
Gavalier, meanwhile, is humble about his role in the situation. A 20-year police veteran, he said he felt he was simply doing his job.
"I just happened to be there," Gavalier said.