Recorder Staff/Domenic PoliAt an Athol Board of Selectmen meeting on Tuesday, Athol Police Chief Russell Kleber reads out loud a letter of commendation he wrote for Athol Dispatcher Dawn Maroni, who helped save the life of Hunter Richardson, who accidentally shot himself while deer hunting in Orange’s woods off Tully Road on the morning of Dec. 24. The Richardson family attended the Selectmen’s meeting to meet Maroni. Seated behind her, right to left, are brother Miller Richardson, Hunter Richardson, mother LeeAnna Richardson and father Marc Richardson.
Recorder Staff/Domenic PoliAt an Athol Board of Selectmen meeting on Tuesday, Athol Police Chief Russell Kleber reads out loud a letter of commendation he wrote for Athol Dispatcher Dawn Maroni, who helped save the life of Hunter Richardson, who accidentally shot himself while deer hunting in Orange’s woods off Tully Road on the morning of Dec. 24. The Richardson family attended the Selectmen’s meeting to meet Maroni. Seated behind her, right to left, are brother Miller Richardson, Hunter Richardson, mother LeeAnna Richardson and father Marc Richardson.

ATHOL — The Richardson family live in Orange, but attended an Athol Board of Selectmen meeting on Tuesday to thank a dispatcher for her life-saving efforts.

The Richardsons sat in the front row in the selectmen’s meeting room while Athol Police Chief Russell T. Kleber read a letter of commendation to dispatcher Dawn Maroni for her role in saving the life of 18-year-old Hunter Richardson, who accidentally shot himself while deer hunting with his father, brother and cousin on Christmas Eve.

“You handled your duties in a very calm and professional manner under very difficult circumstances. Your actions in this case are commendable as you demonstrated the best attributes of a professional 911 dispatcher,” Kleber read to Maroni. “You are a credit to your profession, the Athol Police Department, and our community as a whole. We are proud to have you as a member of the Athol Police Department.”

Athol Police Officer Todd Neale, the first officer on scene the day of the accident, also received a letter of commendation, but was unable to attend Tuesday’s meeting.

Maroni and Neale received a standing ovation from those at the meeting.

Maroni and the Richardsons then went into the hallway to talk. All the family members thanked Maroni for her help and said it was wonderful to meet the voice on the other end of that terrifying Christmas Eve phone call. Hunter said he is feeling much better and gave Maroni a #HunterStrong bracelet made in support of his family after the accident.

Maroni repeatedly hugged Miller Richardson, Hunter’s 17-year-old brother, who made the 911 call from Orange’s woods off Tully Road.

“He did an awesome job,” Maroni said.

While family members talked with the dispatcher, father Marc Richardson was approached by Athol Deputy Fire Chief Jeffrey Parker, who said he was at the scene and was glad to see Hunter doing so well. Parker extended his hand for a handshake, and Richardson clasped it and pulled Parker toward him in a hug of appreciation.

Maroni was working at the Athol Police Department shortly before 9 a.m. on Christmas Eve when she received a transfer 911 call from Shelburne Control for a report of a hunter shot in the chest near Noel’s Nursery in Orange. According to Kleber’s letter, Maroni quickly sent appropriate emergency help to the location.

Hunter, a Keene State College student, is taking a hiatus to recuperate. He said he plans to take a couple of online courses during the summer and return to campus in the fall.