Gloucester

*Media Advisory* City of Gloucester Announces Second Community Safety Day

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, July 8, 2019

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

*Media Advisory*

City of Gloucester Announces Second Community Safety Day

Proceeds to Benefit Cops for Kids with Cancer

 

 

GLOUCESTER — Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken, Police Chief Edward Conley and Fire Chief Eric Smith are pleased to announce that the City of Gloucester will host its second Community Safety Day fundraiser this weekend.

WHEN:

Saturday, July 13 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

WHERE:

Harbor Loop, Gloucester

WHO:

  • Gloucester Police
  • Gloucester Fire
  • U.S. Coast Guard
  • Boston MedFlight
  • State Police and State Police Horses
  • Massachusetts Environmental Police
  • Salem Police Dive Team
  • Northeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council (NEMLEC) Motor Unit
  • NEMLEC SWAT Team
  • Essex Police
  • Rockport Police
  • Peabody Police
  • Chelsea Police
  • Ipswich police
  • Endicott College Public Safety
  • American Red Cross

WHAT:

The City of Gloucester will hold its second Community Safety Day event to benefit Cops for Kids with Cancer this weekend.

Cops for Kids with Cancer is a nonprofit that provides funds to support families as they navigate the financial hardships that arise when a child is diagnosed with cancer.

Donations will be accepted at both entrances to Harbor Loop for the duration of the Community Safety Day event.

“Our first Community Safety Day was a huge success this fall, and we’re excited to participate again this summer,” Fire Chief Smith said. “Cops for Kids with Cancer is a remarkable organization that helps local families in their greatest moments of need, and we’re happy to be able to help and be a part of this event.”

“Being first responders, we’re always looking for ways to give back to the community, and cancer is something that it seems we’ve all been affected by one way or another,” said Officer Joe Parady, who spearheaded the event. “This is a way we can raise money to benefit families going through a difficult time, and for the community and first responders to pull together to help.”

Police, fire and law enforcement officials from throughout northeastern Massachusetts are scheduled to attend the event. Tours will be given of the U.S. Coast Guard Gloucester base and visitors will also have a chance to view the U.S. Coast Guard’s boats. Boston MedFlight also intends to land a helicopter at the U.S. Coast Guard’s base, contingent on weather and availability. 

Gloucester School Resource Officers Peter Sutera and Mike Scola will also be at the event in a ‘dunk tank.’ There will be music, free hot dogs, and raffles featuring gift certificates and prizes from several local businesses. The Chelsea Police Department’s ice cream truck will also give out 200 free ice cream bars at the event.

“In addition to supporting a great cause, this event offers a unique opportunity for the community to meet police, firefighters and first responders in a fun setting, and to tour cruisers, firetrucks, ambulances, and other emergency vehicles up-close,” Police Chief Conley said. “It’s a great chance for us to show the resources we have available to respond in the event of an emergency.”

Those that cannot attend the Community Safety Day event, but wish to donate to the fundraiser can still do so. Checks can be made payable to “Cops for Kids with Cancer” and can be either mailed or brought in-person to the Gloucester Police Department at 197 Main St. Mail should be addressed to Officer Joe Parady.

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Gloucester Police and Fire Departments Respond After Man Falls at Quarry

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Saturday, July 6, 2019

Media Contact: Kelsey Bode
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Gloucester Police and Fire Departments Respond After Man Falls at Quarry

Gloucester police and firefighters responded to an incident where a man fell down the rocks at the quarry by Plum Cove School on Saturday. (Courtesy Photo Gloucester Fire Department)

GLOUCESTER –Police Chief Edward Conley and Fire Chief Eric Smith report that the Gloucester Police and Fire Departments responded to the quarry by Plum Cove School this morning after a man fell onto the rocks.

Gloucester Police and Fire responded to a report at 10:36 a.m. Saturday that a man had fallen down the rocks at the quarry by Plum Cove School on Hickory Street.

After initial investigation, police determined that the 35-year old man had been using a rope swing when it broke, causing him to fall down the rocks.

The man sustained significant injuries from the fall.

Gloucester police and fire officials worked together to navigate the quarry rocks down a hill as they carried the man to a nearby field to be transported by medical helicopter to a Boston Hospital. First responders also used an off-road utility vehicle to extricate the man from the area.

“Our police officers and firefighters worked tirelessly to transport this individual to a safe location,” Fire Chief Smith said. “Walking down those rocks, especially while transporting an injured person, was challenging and required perseverance and teamwork from each of them.”

“The collaboration between the police and fire departments during this incident was truly outstanding,” Police Chief Conley said. “We’re fortunate in Gloucester that our public safety departments work so fluidly together. Well done to each of the officers and firefighters that responded to this scene today.”

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City of Gloucester Offers Boat Safety Tips

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, June 28, 2019

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

City of Gloucester Offers Boat Safety Tips

GLOUCESTER –With the summer season in full swing, Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken, Police Chief Edward Conley, Fire Chief Eric Smith and Harbormaster T.J. Ciarametaro wish to share boating safety tips for Gloucester residents and visitors.

The U.S. Coast Guard reports that there were 4,291 boating accidents in 2017, which resulted in 658 deaths, 2,629 injuries, and an estimated $46 million in property damage.

“Gloucester is fortunate to have a vibrant harbor and access to the ocean to support recreational boating, and we want everyone to enjoy their time on the water,” Harbormaster Ciarametaro said. “It’s imperative that everyone is responsible and safe while operating their boats, however. Taking a boating course and getting a free vessel check can save a life.”

“It’s crucial for people to check the weather before they go out on the water, children wear life jackets, and no one operates a boat while under the influence of alcohol or drugs,” Chief Smith said. “It’s also important for everyone to take steps to protect themselves from the elements while they’re boating, which includes wearing sunscreen, staying hydrated and packing a change of clothes.”

To prevent accidents and injury, the National Safety Council offers several safety tips for boaters:

  • Take a boating safety course. Click here to locate a local boating safety course through the U.S. Coast Guard’s Boating Safety Division’s website.
  • Get a free vessel safety check. The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and U.S. Power Squadrons offer complimentary boat examinations to verify the presence and condition of certain safety equipment required by state and federal regulations.
  • Know the state boating laws. To read a summary of Massachusetts boating law, click here.
  • Be aware of carbon monoxide and carbon monoxide symptoms, which include headache, fatigue, shortness of breath, nausea and dizziness. In severe carbon monoxide poisoning cases, symptoms also include mental confusion, vomiting, loss of muscular coordination, loss of consciousness and death. Maintain fresh air circulation throughout the boat and educate all passengers about where carbon monoxide may accumulate. 
  • Follow a pre-departure checklist. Make a list of necessary gear and check it before departing from a dock or land. To review federal requirements for recreational boats, click here.
  • Develop a float plan. Let a family member or staff at a local marina know where you’re going and how long you’re going to be gone. A float plan can include the following information: name, address, phone number of trip leader and passengers, boat type and registration information, trip itinerary and types of communication and signal equipment on-board. The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary offers a free float plan template.
  • Bring an extra set of clothes and dress appropriately for the weather.
  • Wear sunscreen.
  • Know the nautical rules of the road. Maintain a proper lookout, be respectful of buoys and other navigational aids.
  • Avoid alcohol. Operating a boat while intoxicated is illegal. Nearly half of all boating accidents involve alcohol. Designate a sober skipper before leaving the dock.
  • Watch the weather. Always check local, route and destination weather and water conditions before going boating. If you notice the weather changing suddenly or see storm clouds, it’s recommended you go back to land. 
  • Before leaving, make sure the towline is not stuck in the propeller or wrapped around you.
  • Stay clear of the engine. Drivers should wear the boat’s engine cut-off switch lanyard at all times. Keep watch around the propeller area when people are in the water. Never allow passengers to board or exit your boat from the water when engines are on, or idling. Take extra precautions near boats towing skiers or tubers.
  • Enjoy recreational activities during daylight hours.
  • Practice sun safety: always wear sunscreen, seek shaded areas and protect your skin from direct sun exposure.

The City of Gloucester also reminds boaters never to speed, especially in crowded areas; to give large vessels that cannot turn quickly a wide berth; and never swim in a marina. 

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*Media Advisory* P.A.A.R.I. to Host Fourth Anniversary Celebration and Awards Ceremony

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, June 25, 2019

Media Contact: Kelsey Bode
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

*Media Advisory*

P.A.A.R.I. to Host Fourth Anniversary Celebration and Awards Ceremony

U.S. Drug Czar James Carroll to Be Honored at Fourth Annual Event

GLOUCESTER — Police Assisted Addiction and Recovery Initiative (P.A.A.R.I.) is pleased to announce it will hold its Fourth Anniversary Celebration and Awards Ceremony this Wednesday, June 26.

The annual Anniversary Celebration and Awards Ceremony commemorates the founding of P.A.A.R.I. in June 2015, and recognizes law enforcement, government and community leaders who have played a role in fulfilling the organization’s mission to support the creation of law enforcement based non-arrest pathways and access to treatment and recovery.

WHEN: 

Wednesday, June 26 from 6-9 p.m.

WHERE: 

Gloucester House Restaurant, 63 Rogers St., Gloucester

WHAT: 

P.A.A.R.I. is inviting the public to join Wednesday’s celebration and recognize the work of its partners over the last four years to fight the opioid crisis. The celebration is also open to the media.

P.A.A.R.I. was founded in 2015 in concert with the Gloucester Police Department’s groundbreaking ANGEL Initiative, which reinvented the way law enforcement agencies confront addiction in their own communities by viewing it as a treatable disease rather than a crime, and that people suffering with opioid addiction need treatment, not jail.

With its network of more than 450 law enforcement partners, P.A.A.R.I. is providing access to treatment and working toward a collective vision where non-arrest diversion programs become a standard policing practice across the country. This law enforcement movement is reducing overdose deaths, expanding access to treatment, improving public safety, reducing crime, diverting people away from the criminal justice system, reducing stigma and increasing trust between law enforcement and their communities.

“For four years, P.A.A.R.I. has worked with our law enforcement partners to make tremendous strides in the fight against the opioid crisis,” Co-Founder and Chairman John Rosenthal said. “By supporting non-arrest diversion programs, increasing accessibility to treatment and recovery programming and resources, and supporting law enforcement agencies as they adopt these new effective approaches, we’ve been able to help more than 20,000 people access treatment and are changing the conversation and state and national policy around substance use. Thank you to all of our partners who are making this life-saving, important work possible.”

P.A.A.R.I. Executive Director Allie Hunter added, “We have the pleasure of working alongside an incredible range of law enforcement, government, recovery and community partners, and this celebration is always a great opportunity to thank them all for their support and commitment to fighting the opioid epidemic in new ways. It’s taking a lot of people, working together, to address the opioid crisis. This is an opportunity to celebrate our collective impact.”

“Four years ago, P.A.A.R.I. was founded out of a need to make a dramatic change in the way our law enforcement agencies and communities were responding to the opioid epidemic,” said P.A.A.R.I. Board Member and retired Arlington Police Chief Fred Ryan. “We’ve taken great strides since then, and will continue making new partnerships and undertaking new initiatives for as long as it takes. Thank you to all of our partners, who make this important work possible.”

Tickets can be purchased at the door or by clicking here. Tickets cost $30 for one person, and tickets for two people can be purchased for $50.

P.A.A.R.I. will honor several individuals and groups for their contributions to the effort to combat the opioid crisis, including the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy Director James Carroll, who will be in attendance at the event.

In addition, Stephenie Jesi Memorial Scholarship awards will be presented to five women in recovery who have been helped by P.A.A.R.I. partners.

Those confirmed to attend are marked by an asterisk below.

Law Enforcement Leadership

Boston Police Department (Massachusetts): Deputy Michael Stratton*, Lt. David Murphy*, Sgt. Peter Messina*, Officers Josh DeLisle*, Joshua De La Rosa*, and Daniel Harlow*

Chelsea Police Department (Massachusetts): Chief Brian Brian Kyes*, Capt. Dave Batchelor*, and Community Engagement Specialist Dan Cortez*

Gloucester Police Department (Massachusetts): Lt. Jeremiah Nicastro* and Sgt. Sean Conners*

Newton Police Department (New Jersey): Chief Michael Richards*

Anne Arundel County Police (Maryland): Lt. Steve Thomas and Crisis Response Director Jen Corbin

Government and Community Leadership

Boston Mayor Marty Walsh

Gloucester Mayor Sefatia Theken*

State Representative Marjorie Decker* (Massachusetts)

State Senator Bruce Tarr* (Massachusetts)

Gloucester Public Health Director, Karin Carroll*

Monica Bharel, Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health*

Massachusetts Organization for Addiction Recovery (MOAR): Executive Director Maryanne Franguls* and Public Policy & Communications Director Jared Owen

Vicky Butler, Operations Supervisor, Plymouth County Outreach*

U.S. Drug Czar James Carroll, Director of the U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP)*

Stephenie Jesi Memorial Scholarship

Tiffany Hill*

Nicole Shettlesworth*

Bonita Carrasquillo

Kellyana Lopez*

Lyndsie Sova*

About P.A.A.R.I.

The Police Assisted Addiction & Recovery Initiative (P.A.A.R.I) is a nonprofit organization with a mission to help law enforcement agencies nationwide create non-arrest pathways to treatment and recovery. Founded alongside the groundbreaking Gloucester Police Department Angel Initiative in June 2015, P.A.A.R.I. has been a driving force behind this rapidly expanding community policing movement. We provide technical assistance, coaching, grants, and other capacity-building resources to more than 450 police departments in 33 states. P.A.A.R.I. and our law enforcement partners are working towards a collective vision where non-arrest diversion programs become a standard policing practice across the country, thereby reducing overdose deaths, expanding access to treatment, improving public safety, reducing crime, diverting people away from the criminal justice system, and increasing trust between law enforcement and their communities. Our programs and partners have saved thousands of lives, changed police culture, and reshaped the national conversation about the opioid epidemic. Learn more at www.paariusa.org.

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