The Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) has awarded Peabody resident Nicholas Butler with Massport’s “Logan Star” award.
The award honors non-Massport employees at Boston Logan International Airport who exemplify the highest level of customer service and/or perform acts of courage in their roles.
Butler is a Massachusetts State Trooper serving in Troop F at Logan Airport. In July 2022, he was directing heavy traffic on the Arrivals level of Terminal E when he spotted an unattended vehicle rolling backward toward a group of people in the passenger pick-up area.
Being cognizant of the danger posed by the vehicle in a heavily populated pedestrian area, Butler ran to attempt to gain control of the vehicle. He also witnessed the vehicle’s operator fall to the ground after being struck by the open driver’s side door. Butler sprinted 50 yards, gained control of the vehicle and stopped it, preventing a potentially dangerous accident from occurring.
Butler and his colleague then turned their attention to the injured driver and notified medics, who treated his injuries.
The “Logan Star” award recognizes contributions of non-Massport employees at Boston Logan in one or more categories:
- Providing exceptional customer service;
- Engaging in an act of bravery and/or heroism;
- Improving safety or security;
- Increasing operational efficiency or excellence in a way that benefits the Logan community; and
- Creating innovations or new work processes that benefit the Logan community as a whole.
Butler received the award during the 17th Annual Massport S.A.F.E. and Logan Stars Ceremony held in January. The ceremony, which highlights Massport’s commitment to safety and security, recognized more than 30 other employees for their contributions to keeping the airport safe and secure. Butler has served on the Massachusetts State Police since 2013.
The event featured the 44th Commissioner of the Boston Police Department, Michael Cox, as the keynote speaker.
Cox most recently served as the chief of police of the Ann Arbor Police Department in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Prior to his appointment to that position in 2019, Cox was a 30-year veteran of the Boston Police Department, last serving as bureau chief and superintendent of the Bureau of Professional Development, overseeing the Boston Police Academy, the Firearms Training Unit, the Police Cadet Unit, recruit training and in-service training for all sworn Boston Police personnel.
