Woburn officers among 28 honored with Hanna awards

BOSTON (WHDH) -- Two Woburn police officers were honored Tuesday for their acts of valor while responding to an armed robbery one year ago.

Officer Robert DeNapoli was hurt when he raced to the crime scene at a jewelry store in a busy part of Woburn.

A sea of blue marched into the annual George Hanna Awards Ceremony, named for a state trooper who gave his life in the line of duty.

Among the recipients were two Woburn officers who feared they might pay the ultimate price facing a jewelry story robbery suspect who opened fire.

“The glass from his cruiser window was shot out, his service weapon was shot out of his hand, and he was shot multiple times in the legs,” a woman explained during the ceremony.

Officer Robert DeNapoli was seriously hurt but got to his car and radioed for help.

He says the suspect jumped on top of his cruiser and kept firing. Officer DeNapoli says the last thing he was thinking about was an award.

“It was more like a ‘I can’t believe it. I can’t believe this is happening,’ I mean, we just lost Jack Maguire eight months prior and now it’s happening again because I thought I was dead. I thought this guy wasn’t going to stop,” said Officer DeNapoli.

Officer DeNapoli was referring to Woburn officer Jack Maguire who was killed in a violent shoot-out the year before.

Officer DeNapoli's partner, Mark Gibbons, was honored for chasing down and catching the suspect that shot Officer DeNapoli.

“All I was thinking about was staying alive, just making myself the smallest target I could be and coming out on top and thank God I did,” said Officer Mark Gibbons said.

The Woburn officers were among 28 lawmen and a tactical unit honored on the special day.

Officer Gibbons is back on the job with the Woburn Police Department. Officer DeNapoli is still working to get there.