Lieutenant AJ Lapanna 
Middleborough Police Department, Massachusetts
Master Sergeant, Call Sign "Anarchy"
972nd Military Police/20th Special Forces Group (ABN)
End of Watch: Sunday, October 1, 2023

The First Responder Whiskey Society has released this memorial whiskey bottle for fallen Middleborough Police Lieutenant and 972nd Military Police Master Sergeant AJ Lapanna. This project was started with permission from his family.  100% of the net proceeds will go back to support his family.

 -------—

Pre-orders for this bottle will occur until July 17, 2024. After that time period, the orders will be made, and they will ship around July 31, 2024. This gives the distillery time to create bottles for the first batch of orders. Any orders after the pre-order time will take approximately 3 weeks for customers to receive their bottles. We appreciate your patience, as the bottles are all handmade!

*21+ OR OLDER ADULT SIGNATURE REQUIRED* - A 21+ or Older Adult Signature is required at the time of delivery. If you do not have someone there to sign for the bottle at delivery or coordinate with UPS to pick it up at one of their locations, it will be returned to the distillery, and you will be assessed an additional $25 shipping fee if you request to have it sent back out to you.

Please allow 3 weeks for fulfillment of your order as each bottle is custom-made per order. 

 -------—

Angelo “AJ” Lapanna III, age 48, a lifelong resident of Middleborough, passed away on Sunday, October 1st, surrounded by family. He was born on May 19th, 1975 to Angelo and Patricia Lapanna. He graduated from Middleborough High School in 1993 where he played football.

AJ enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1992. After attending Basic Training and 95B Advanced Individual Training, AJ served with the 972nd Military Police Company out of Melrose, MA and deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2001. AJ became a “Green Beret” (U.S. Army Special Forces) and a Special Forces Communications Sergeant. He later qualified as a Special Operations Terminal Attack Controller (SOTAC), earning the call sign “Anarchy,” and became a Special Forces Team Sergeant prior to his retirement.

Throughout his career, his military education included Airborne Course, Special Forces Qualification Course, Advanced Arabic Language Training, Army Special Operation Techniques, and SOTAC.

In his 23 years of service, AJ served three combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, and multiple missions around the world. AJ received two Bronze Star Medals, Army Commendation Medals, two Army Achievement Medals, the National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with M Device and Bronze Hourglass, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbons, NATO Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge, and Special Forces Tab.

In July 2001, AJ was hired as a Patrol Officer with the Middleborough Police Department. He was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in 2019, and to the rank of Lieutenant in August 2023. He was assigned as the Department’s Firearms Instructor and Defense Tactics Instructor, as well as coordinated the Middleborough Police Department Citizens Police Academy. He served with Southeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council (SEMLEC) SWAT as the Operations Commander, and was a Co-Coordinator for the SEMLEC Critical Incident Stress Management team helping other police officers navigate the emotional aftermath of a traumatic event. AJ also served as an Instructor for the Massachusetts Police Training Committee, sharing his professionalism and expertise with officers from around the state.

He was a loving father who enjoyed spending time with his children and family. He coached his son Peyton’s Little League baseball team, as well as varsity hockey. He was an avid bowhunter and saltwater fisherman, and enjoyed yoga and helping his wife build her business.

AJ is survived by his wife, Traci; children, Peyton J. Lapanna, Haley Brack, and Casandra Kennedy; parents, Angelo J. Lapanna II and Patricia Lapanna; sister, Jodi (David) Lapanna Scroggins and family; brother-in-law, Alan (Jennifer) Cunningham and family; brother-in-law, Jason (Angela) Cunningham and family; and father-in-law, Alan Cunningham. AJ was preceded in death by his mother-in-law, Janice A. Cunningham.

 ----------
This commemorative bottle of whiskey has been created by Liberty Call Distilling in San Diego California. The company is marine owned and a friend to all first responders. The bottle boasts superior quality work compared to other engravings because it is sandblasted, not just etched.

The whiskey is first aged in new 53 gallon medium charred American oak barrels for 2 years then rested in-barrel with Chilean Amburana Oak staves.  They’ve created a uniquely sweet, yet spicy bourbon whiskey. With hints of gingerbread and fresh vanilla on the nose, there is a pronounced sweetness on the palate while showing touches of oak, spice cake, nutmeg, and light brown sugar. 

The bottles can be shipped across the United States except for the restricted states of Alaska, Massachusetts, Michigan, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Utah.

 ----------

 First Responder Whiskey Society

Join The First Responder Whiskey Society!

The First Responder Whiskey Society is a non-profit 501(c)(3)(EIN #87-3987483) charity with one mission: to support first responders and their families in times of need. The charity has a membership of 12,000+ police, fire, military, medical, and family members from primarily the United States and other parts of the world. The values that guide our organization are camaraderie, loyalty, mental and physical wellness, and responsible consumption. Our motto of "Service Through Spirits" is something we take seriously. We prioritize charity and our members above all else and always strive to do things ethically because it is the right thing to do.