City of Gloucester

City of Gloucester Encourages Residents to Sign Up for Smart911 Alerts

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City of Gloucester Encourages Residents to Sign Up for Smart911 Alerts

GLOUCESTER — Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken, Police Chief John McCarthy, Fire Chief Eric Smith, and Assistant Fire Chief/Emergency Management Director Joe Aiello are encouraging residents to sign up for mobile safety notifications and create a profile through the city’s emergency alert system.

Gloucester Emergency Alerts, powered by Smart911, is the official emergency notification system used by the city to communicate with residents and business owners during a range of emergencies.

Smart911 is a free service that allows residents to sign up online to create a profile that will provide vital information to 911 call takers during an emergency — allowing first responders to make faster and more informed responses. People who live and work in Gloucester can add relevant information to their profile, including the number of people and pets living in a household or working at a business, what those people and pets look like, relevant medical conditions and allergies, and emergency contacts.

The system also allows participants to receive emergency notifications in real time. Emergency alerts are used to notify residents of a variety of situations, including power outages, evacuations, lock down situations, water advisories and road closures.

“I encourage all Gloucester residents to sign up for Smart911 Alerts,” Mayor Theken said. “By utilizing this technology, residents are able to receive important notifications while providing essential information that is needed to best help during an emergency situation. Stay informed. Take advantage of this safety tool and sign up today.”

Gloucester Emergency Alerts also issues advisories to residents for amber alerts, missing person alerts, snow, flooding, traffic, weather warnings and beach alerts.

“This safety alert system could truly save lives, and it only takes a few minutes to sign up online,” Fire Chief Smith said. “Knowing how many people, and pets, live in a household in the event of a fire is a huge help to first responders. Being aware of medical conditions can help us provide the best possible care in an emergency. This system is a great asset to our city’s safety– let’s use it to its full potential.”

Residents can sign up to receive mobile alerts and create a safety profile for their household by clicking here.

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*Media Advisory* Gloucester to Host Marijuana Informational Session

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GLOUCESTER — Interim Police Chief John McCarthy and Gloucester Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Richard Safier are pleased to announce that they will be hosting a Marijuana Informational Session next month.

WHERE:

O’Maley Innovation Middle School auditorium, 32 Cherry St., Gloucester

WHEN:

Friday, March 2

  • Session One – 6th and 7th Grade Assembly at 9 a.m.
  • Session Two – 8th Grade Assembly at 10 a.m.
  • Session Three – Open Assembly at 5:30 p.m.

WHO:

Dr. Ruth Potee, a board certified family physician and addiction medicine physician at Valley Medical Group

WHAT: 

Dr. Potee will be speaking with middle school students and the greater Gloucester community about marijuana, addiction, vaping and more.

Named Franklin County Doctor of the Year by the Massachusetts Medical Society in 2015, her visit is the result of a partnership between Gloucester Police’s Kops N Kids initiative and Gloucester Public Schools.

“Although marijuana is legal in Massachusetts for people over the age of 21, we want to make sure students and the larger community still understand the risks of addiction,” Chief McCarthy said. “We’re looking forward to having Dr. Potee join us and teach our children more about the pitfalls of substance abuse and what they can do to protect themselves.”

Parents and interested members of the community are invited to attend the evening session.

For questions, please call the Gloucester Police Department at 978- 283-1212 and ask to speak with Chief McCarthy or Lt. Jeremiah Nicastro.

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Gloucester Police and P.A.A.R.I. Partnering To Connect Overdose Victims To Treatment Options

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PAARI_Logo_PUB_052815-06

P.A.A.R.I.
John Rosenthal, Co-founder & Chairman
186 Main St.
Gloucester, MA 01930

Gloucester Police Department

John McCarthy, Interim Chief of Police
197 Main St.
Gloucester, MA 01930

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For Immediate Release

Monday, Aug. 14, 2017

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Gloucester Police and P.A.A.R.I. Partnering To Connect Overdose Victims To Treatment Options

GLOUCESTER — Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken, Interim Chief John McCarthy, John Rosenthal, Co-founder and Chairman of the the Police Assisted Addicition and Recovery Initiative (P.A.A.R.I.), and Allie Hunter McDade, Executive Director of P.A.A.R.I., are pleased to announce that the Gloucester Police Department and P.A.A.R.I. began a new outreach effort Monday in which victims of nonfatal overdoses will receive follow-up visits aimed at directing them into treatment.

Through the partnership, Gloucester Police Officers and P.A.A.R.I. Certified Recovery Coach Tito Rodriguez visit the homes of recent overdose victims to provide them with direct access to recovery resources, including same-day referrals to treatment centers.

“We are tremendously excited to begin this outreach effort,” Hunter McDade said. “This new aspect of the ANGEL Program will enable us to bring resources directly to overdose victims where they live, and reach Gloucester residents who are at the highest risk for a fatal overdose.”

Rodriguez and officers working on behalf of the Gloucester ANGEL Program will work with victims and families in an effort to direct people into treatment soon after an overdose event.

“Mental health, substance abuse and so much more are issues that cross into all communities so we have to work together to address them,” said Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken. “Partnerships are a necessity, not a choice, to save lives and help people get the help and services that everyone deserves.”

P.A.A.R.I. will also provide overdose survivors and families with 4mg nasal naloxone, the life-saving overdose reversal drug​, so they are prepared in the event of a future overdose.​

“Our top priority is ensuring that those in need are connected to the resources that can help them overcome addiction,” Chief McCarthy said. “Our doors are always open, and we hope that these face-to-face visits will encourage people to get help.”

Similar initiatives have proved successful in Arlington, Plymouth and East Bridgewater, where officers and recovery coaches visit with overdose survivors shortly after responding to calls for service.

“Data driven policing has been an essential tool that has allowed us to develop a predictive and preventative approach to overdoses,” P.A.A.R.I. Police Council Chair and Arlington Police Chief Frederick Ryan said. “I am pleased that P.A.A.R.I. and the Gloucester Police are joining together to adopt this proactive program.”

Chairman Rosenthal added: “It is impossible to effectively address the opioid crisis that has impacted so many families nationwide without a collaborative, hands-on effort by law enforcement and the recovery community.”

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Gloucester Fire Department Receives Assistance to Firefighter Grant

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For Immediate Release

Monday, Aug. 1, 2016

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 978-865-4110
Email: [email protected]

Gloucester Fire Department Receives Assistance to Firefighter Grant

GLOUCESTER — Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken and Chief Eric Smith are pleased to announce that the Gloucester Fire Department received a $323,091 Assistance to Firefighters Grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

The money will be used to purchase up-to-date self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). This new equipment will replace the department’s entire cache of aging units with the latest version of National Fire Protection Association compliant devices.

“This grant allows the Fire Department to complete necessary upgrades to their equipment so that firefighters can do their job safely and effectively,” Mayor Theken said. “Thank you to FEMA for this generous allocation.”

Gloucester will provide a 10 percent match of $32,309 to accompany the federal grant, totaling $355,400 for the replacement of all SCBA.

Grant funding includes:

  • 45 SCBA units – harness/backpack, face piece (mask) and two cylinders
  • 38 additional masks
  • SCBA repair and diagnostics training for two members of the Fire Department

The grant was written by Capt. Tom LoGrande, who was assisted by the Fire Chief’s office, EMS Coordinator Sander Schultz, the Mayor’s office, Treasurer’s office, Assessor’s office and numerous firefighters who provided data and reviewed the grant.

“This team effort led by Capt. LoGrande shows the strong commitment of the members of the Gloucester Fire Department to provide first class public safety to our community while ensuring the safety of first responders,” Chief Smith said.

The goal of the Assistance to Firefighters Grant is to meet the needs of fire departments and non-affiliated emergency medical service organizations. Since 2001, the grants have helped firefighters and other first responders obtain critically needed equipment, gear, emergency vehicles, training and other resources needed to protect the public and emergency personnel from fire and related hazards.

“Our firefighters put their lives on the line to keep our families and communities safe,” U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren said. “Chief Smith and Mayor Romeo Theken deserve credit for their efforts to get this federal grant, and I’m very glad it will help the Gloucester Fire Department get new equipment to help firefighters do their jobs effectively.”

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