The West Hartford Exchange Club honored a member of the West Hartford Police Department and the West Hartford Fire Department at its Public Safety Night.

By Ronni Newton

The West Hartford Exchange Club held a Public Safety Night at Rockledge Grille on May 23, honoring one member of the West Hartford Police Department and one member of the West Hartford Fire Department who had been chosen by their peers.

For 2024, Ofc. Timothy Camerl was recognized as the West Hartford “Police Officer of the Year,” while Firefighter/Paramedic Xavier Harrelle was named the Exchange Club’s “Firefighter of the Year.”

Members of both departments, Town Manager Rick Ledwith, Mayor Shari Cantor, and many members of the Town Council attended the celebration, along with family members – including quite a few children – and friends of the honorees.

Harrelle appeared on a computer screen, attending the celebration – which had been rescheduled from April – virtually. “I want to express my profound thanks and appreciation,” he said, noting how special the award is but adding that the actions are representative of the town’s workforce. “Although my name is on that award … any member of the West Hartford public safety team would have performed those same actions had they been placed in the same position. That day just happened to be my turn to step up.”

Firefighter Derek McDermott, who was a member of the same recruiting class in 2021, accepted the award on behalf of his fellow firefighter.

“I’m lucky enough to see what he does with his knowledge and skill on a day-to-day basis,” McDermott said. He described the incident, which occurred when Harrelle was off duty, that led to his selection as “Firefighter of the Year.”

While on a snowboarding trip in Vermont, Harrelle heard screams for help as he was packing up his car to go home. “He sees a man collapsed right there on the ground,” McDermott said. Another bystander, who was a dentist, said the man had just fallen down.

 “Xavier gets down and confirms the man has no pulse, the man is not breathing, and immediately starts taking control of the scene,” McDermott said, while asking someone to call 911. He provided CPR until someone brought over an AED, which administered a shock, but the man was still not breathing.

Local paramedics finally arrived with their gear and took over CPR, but Harrelle stayed, helped get the man onto the stretcher for transport to the hospital, and talked to the family in the parking lot. “It’s actions like that, that are why … people who live in town hold firefighters and cops in high regard,” he said, and this awas one example of why he recommended Harrelle for this year’s honor. “Whether he was on shift of not, he didn’t waver one bit. Whether it was a stranger or someone he knew … he didn’t waver one bit.”

He later learned that the man’s pulse was restored while he was on the way to the hospital.

Chief Greg Priest praised the Exchange Club for their support of the community, particularly their support of public safety.

“I couldn’t be more honored and pleased to see that he is the one being recognized,” Priest said of Harrelle. While there are many “media-worthy events,” he said, the department has roughly 90 men and women. “But 24/7, every day while you are home sleeping, these men and women are out protecting the community, doing things that could be award-worthy,” coming to work and sacrificing their lives, being exposed to carcinogens and trauma.

“Firefighters and police officers tend to think that this is just their job,” said Priest. “This action is a remarkable display of the internal motivation and disposition to help, and I’m glad we’re recognizing Xavier for this.” He is valued, and deserves the honor for what he did in New Hampshire and daily.

Police Chief Vernon Riddick said a committee of department members choose the award recipient. The nomination for Ofc. Timothy Camerl noted that he newer officers view him as a “leader, a mentor for these younger officers, and played a vital part in setting the standard high for molding professional, dependable police officers within this department.”

As a member of the West Hartford Police K-9 unit and the Capitol Region K-9 unit, “Ofc. Camerl has gone above and beyond his role as a K-9 officer,” Riddick said, jokingly admitting that although he and K-9 Onyx “do not get along very well,” the team has successfully located fleeing subjects, apprehended numerous felons, and located narcotics and illegal firearms.

Ofc. Camerl, a member and leader of the Emergency Service Unit (SWAT) “continues to prove himself as a reliable asset, especially during ESU functions and operations when most needed.” He has earned numerous awards and earned positive evaluations from his supervisors “due to his high quality police work” that goes above and beyond.

Riddick added that Camerl previously received a lifesaving award for saving the life of someone who was bleeding out after he had been lacerated by a samurai sword, and has also receive a merit award, and departmental and unit citations. In April, Riddick said, Camerl and Onyx assisted the New Britain Police Department in locating a large quantity of cocaine, fentanyl, meth, THC oil, and other substances.

“Six years ago I don’t think I could have envisioned Tim being where he is now,” Riddick said, noting that while the issues were minor, the young officer needed to pay a few visits to the chief”s office for some mentoring in response to some of his decision-making. “What you just listened to what straightening up. He could have put his head down, he could have been upset, but as a testament to his character, his upbringing, his family, his integrity, his character, his morals, he took on that challenge to six years later go at my face: ‘I am the police officer of the year.'”

Camerl is always smiling, Riddick said, but the “walking oxymoron” is also a “beast,” Riddick said, who is able to use his martial arts and defensive training to avoid needing to use deadly force. The honor is well-deserved, Riddick said.

A visibly moved Camerl, speaking from his heart, thanked those in attendance and his family for their support, the Exchange Club for hosting the annual event, and his fellow officers for their partnership.

“I know I can be a handful with you guys …,” Camerl said, noting the importance of training. “I don’t take it for granted because every rep is a minute or second between life and death.”

It takes a special person to be a K-9 officer, Camerl said, “I could not fathom a stronger bond between having a partner like our dogs by our side.”

Mayor Shari Cantor presented proclamations to both Harrelle and Camerl.

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