MARION — Following over three decades of service, Chief John B. Garcia officially retires in January 2021.
“It has been an honor to serve this community alongside the men and women of the Marion Police Department,” Chief Garcia said. “We have endured many weather-related events, a pandemic and more, and it has been through their continuous cooperation and support that we have been able to get through all that we have to this point. I hope that they will continue to believe in the goodness of the profession we have all chosen, and take pride in what they do each day within the community.”
Chief Garcia holds an associate’s degree from Bristol Community College and a bachelor’s degree from the then Bridgewater State College. He began his career at the Chatham Police Department in 1984. He left Chatham Police in 1986 and began as a police officer with the Marion Police Department shortly after.
He was promoted to the rank of sergeant in 2000, and was appointed as the first lieutenant in the history of the department in 2004. He took over as the department’s Chief on Jan. 1, 2018.
Chief Garcia was a certified diver. After one of the highway murder victims was found along Route 195 in Marion in the late-1980s, he completed an evidence dive in a drainage ditch. His picture from that search has been included in two books, “Shallow Graves” by Maureen Boyle and “Killing Season” by Carlton Smith.
He was also part of the formation of the Southeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council (SEMLEC) Search and Rescue Team and served as the unit commander for 12 years.
“The search and rescue team provided me with some of the most meaningful and satisfying moments of my career,” Chief Garcia said. “The overwhelming sense of accomplishment and satisfaction can’t be described after finding someone who was lost in the woods and would not have survived if they hadn’t been found by the team. There were also several cases where firearms were recovered due to the efforts of the search team. The recovery of items like this is important to provide evidence as well as to ensure they don’t end up in the wrong hands.”
As part of the team, he also had the opportunity to attend, as well as present at the National Association of Search and Rescue (NASAR) Conference, which is held in various locations across the country.
Chief Garcia served as the initial Accreditation Manager for the department and was responsible for attaining the initial Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission (MPAC) State Certification for the department in June 2014, as well as its full State Accreditation in June 2015. The department was successfully re-accredited in 2018 and completed the assessment process for its 2021 re-accreditation this week.
As Chief, he also serves on the Plymouth County Outreach Advisory Board.
“I am proud to have been part of such a worthwhile organization made up of so many caring and dedicated individuals who work tirelessly to assist those in our communities with substance use disorders, along with their families. The work of this group has become ever so important in the unique times we have faced in 2020,” Chief Garcia said.
Under Chief Garcia’s leadership, the Marion Police Department also adopted the “Handle With Care” program promoted by the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office.
According to the program, a national survey of the prevalence of children’s exposure to violence and trauma revealed that 60% of American children have been exposed to some form of violence, crime or abuse and 40% were direct victims of two or more violent acts. Prolonged exposure to violence and trauma can seriously undermine children’s ability to focus, behave appropriately and learn. It often leads to school failure, truancy, suspension or expulsion, dropping out, or involvement in the juvenile justice system.
Through the Handle With Care model, when Marion Police officers respond to an incident where a school-aged child may have been a victim or a witness, they notify the school of the child’s name and advise the school to “handle with care.” No further information is given to school officials. Teachers and staff are notified so that they can monitor the affected child and prepare to offer additional support or referrals for additional services as needed.
Overall, the Handle With Care initiative aims to prevent children’s exposure to trauma and violence, mitigate the negative effects children experience as a result of exposure to trauma, and increase knowledge and awareness.
“Chief Garcia has been a tremendous leader for the department and we thank him for his work as Chief, as well as his service during his previous 30-plus years as a member of the department,” Marion Town Administrator James McGrail said. “The advancement and growth of the department under his leadership has helped to ensure that the Marion Police Department is a modern agency that is ready and able to meet the needs of its community. We wish him all the best and hope that he enjoys a healthy and happy retirement.”
“I would like to thank my family for being behind me during my entire career. They have had to deal with my absence at many family events, holidays and other functions over the years,” Chief Garcia said. “I would also like to thank all of the town departments and their employees for working with and supporting the police department. I am grateful to the Selectmen for appointing me as Chief three years ago, and I’d like to thank my fellow Plymouth County Chiefs of Police, Southeastern Massachusetts Chiefs of Police and Massachusetts Chiefs of Police for their continued support and collaboration throughout the years.”
Chief Garcia’s last active shift as Chief will be Friday, Dec. 11. Lt. Richard Nighelli, who was selected to be the new Chief in May, will serve as Acting Chief until he officially takes over duties as Chief on Jan. 3, 2021.
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