SPRINGFIELD — Police arrested countless armed offenders, saved the life of a 10-month-old baby who stopped breathing, chased down six men accused of a string of armed robberies and one sergeant saved her cousin’s life without using her gun, badge or police training.

Police officials on Wednesday recognized nearly 150 of their own and a handful of law enforcement from different departments in awards that stemmed from 37 different incidents from October 2023 to now. Some officers received more than one award.

Deputy Chief David Kane, who poured through thousands of police reports to identify recipients, explained the night celebrated “the best of the best” and fantastic heroism during violent moments.

But Sgt. Melissa Rodriguez’s award for saving a life in 2023 was a little different.

Rodriguez donated two-thirds of her liver to her cousin who suffers from an auto-immune disease. Two years later most of her liver has regenerated and her cousin is doing well, said Ryan Walsh, police spokesman who served as emcee for the event.

“This courageous act goes well beyond her badge,” Walsh said. “Her choice to put others beyond herself is indicative of a strong leader, a good person and a great police officer.”

During the event, Police Superintendent Lawrence Akers said the awards showed how many times the officers showed bravery under pressure and “stepped up their game.” They demonstrate how there are people behind the uniforms who choose to stand between order and chaos.

“Your sacrifice often goes unseen but is never underappreciated,” he said. “You have made us all proud.”

In one incident, a total of eight Springfield Police officers, Detectives Daniel Huard, Nicholas Mancinone, John Barlow, Duane Lewis, Nathan Jurkowski and Seth Barker and officers Fernando Rosa, Kaleb Baez, and Hampden Sheriff’s Department Lt. Lionel Marques, and deputies Jorge Delgado and Rey Santa, received awards for actions they took in July 2024 to arrest an armed man who threatened to shoot a rival drug dealer.

The officers set up set up surveillance at an address on Lombard Street. When the suspect, a 20-year-old man, was confronted he drove into numerous occupied cruisers. He also tried to run down multiple detectives, one of whom had to take cover behind a tree, Walsh said.

“The driver crashed into that tree, several cars, a fence and two houses … The driver then led police onto a pursuit into Agawam," Walsh said.

The suspect, who also threw out a high-powered firearm during the chase, was arrested on 46 charges. He also crashed into another Springfield cruiser with such force it sent the two officers in it to the hospital, Walsh said.

“These officers put themselves in grave danger to protect the public dealing with an armed suspect who showed no regard for police or civilian life across two cities,” Walsh said.

During the ceremony, Mayor Domenic J. Sarno reminded people officers are the ones who are running toward an incident when everyone else is running away.

“I appreciate you day in and day out because you wear that badge with compassion and with bravery,” he said.

In several cases, police officers were recognized for using their training and compassion to stop distraught people from committing suicide. In another several were honored for their hours long search which located an elderly man who had become trapped in a neighbor’s boiler room for days.

Officers Anthony DiSantis, Aremnio Garcia, Daniel Moynahan and West Springfield Officer Amanda Torres each received a life-saving award with valorous conduct for stopping a man in July 2024 who had climbed over the rail of the Memorial Bridge in an attempt to killing himself, Walsh said.

Torres calmly talked to the distraught man and managed to develop a rapport with him. When he allowed her to get close enough she wrapped him in a bear hug and the other officers who were surrounding the man pulled him back over the rail to safety. He was taken to the hospital for treatment, Walsh said.