PITTSFIELD — A large poster of motorcycle stamps now hangs in Police Chief Thomas Dawley’s office.
The poster, along with an accompanying plaque, were the official commendation from members of the United States Postal Service, who on Tuesday morning held a ceremony in a back room at the Fenn Street outpost for Dawley — an expression of gratitude for his efforts to rescue pregnant postal worker Leah Rowland from a dog attack in 2021.
“We were in the right place at the right time,” said Dawley, remembering how he and his neighbor, a nurse, helped save her from serious injury.
On the afternoon of July 31, 2021, Dawley was at his home on Ridgeway Avenue when he heard the cries for help from Rowland. She was being attacked by two dogs that had burst through the screen door of their house. Dawley said he ran to help Rowland, hurried her away and got her to his house to wait for EMS.