New York Women in Law Enforcement honors UPD lieutenant and officer

The state’s leading organization of women in policing recognized outstanding professional achievement by Mallory Nelson, a New Paltz University Police Officer.

Officer Nelson and her Field Training Officer, Lieutenant William Shaw, were cited in New York Women in Law Enforcement’s March 2021 newsletter for their effective response to a January 2020 incident that took place during Nelson’s first month after graduating from the police academy.

The newsletter describes their actions that night as follows:

“On Jan. 24, 2020, at about 10 p.m., Lieutenant William Shaw was working the night shift as a Field Training Officer with new officer, Mallory Nelson, who had just graduated the police academy the previous month.

Officers responded to the Village of New Paltz under mutual aid to a fight in progress at P&G’s bar, with a possible stabbing victim. Officers arrived on scene and observed several other police units parked in front of the establishment.

Because of Shaw and Nelson’s diligence, they observed that the suspect was actually around the side of the building being held by civilians. The officers exited their patrol vehicle and quickly gained control of the suspect, getting him into custody before anyone else was injured, without regard for their personal safety. It was confirmed moments before that the suspect had stabbed another person.

Lt. Shaw was Officer Nelson’s field training officer at the time and displayed great leadership and proper tactics to the new officer. Officer Nelson acted without hesitation to effectively secure the suspect’s legs and helped her partner effect the arrest. The officers displayed a great team effort during this incident that highlighted the qualities necessary in order to have a positive outcome during a serious incident. The officers helped quell a very dangerous situation, not only to the stabbing victim and other bystanders, but also to other officers responding to the scene.”

Lt. Shaw and Officer Nelson received SUNY Police Chiefs Association Professional Service Awards for their response to this incident. Please join us in congratulating them on this recognition and thanking them for their service to the campus community.