Manchester

meHUB Launches Website to Promote Positive Youth Development

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Manchester Essex HUB
Michelle Kempskie, Co-Founder
Lynn Warnock, Co-Founder
[email protected]

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2019

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

meHUB Launches Website to Promote Positive Youth Development

MANCHESTER-BY-THE-SEA — Members of meHUB are pleased to announce the launch of the organization’s website.

The website, manchesteressexhub.com, supports meHUB’s mission to provide resources and tools that promote social-emotional well-being and positive youth development, and foster a strong support network throughout the community.

A comprehensive array of local, national and international resources are available on the website, with the goal of helping teens and families educate themselves and find support for questions and concerns on issues such as mental health, body image, grief counseling, stress management, suicide prevention, bullying, learning differences, internet safety and social media, LGBTQ topics, dating violence, sex education, smoking and vaping, drugs and alcohol.

“It’s so important for communities to come together and support youth,” said meHUB Co-Founder Lynn Warnock. “We hope to help families find the information and support they need.”

The website also features contact information for several National Hotlines that provide resources and assistance in the areas of suicide prevention, mental health, eating disorders, drug use and addiction.

The website’s Events Page details upcoming events for youth, parents and the community, including an educational session later this week to raise awareness about adolescent and young adult mental health.

The session, “Minding Your Mind,” is co-sponsored by meHUB and the Spaulding Education Fund. The program will provide an overview of the signs and symptoms of mental health concerns most prevalent in adolescents through young adulthood, which will be highlighted by a speaker who will share real life experiences involving mental health.

Funds for the website were provided by the Town of Essex, Town of Manchester-by-the-Sea and Manchester Essex Regional School District.

The meHUB website was designed by John Guilfoil Public Relations LLC and was built using the WordPress website platform. It features a modern, HTML 5 “Responsive Design” that works equally well on computer, tablet, and smartphone screens. John Guilfoil Public Relations LLC also designed the meHUB logo.

About meHUB

Community members in Essex and Manchester-by-the-Sea came together in 2017 to form meHUB after Youth Risk Survey Data was released from Manchester Essex Regional Middle High School, highlighting concerning behaviors among local youth including alcohol and drug use, unhealthy dietary behaviors and sexual behaviors related to unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.

By providing resources and tools that promote social-emotional well-being and positive youth development, meHUB seeks to educate and empower Manchester and Essex youth and families. The organization also seeks to build and foster a strong support network throughout the community through collaboration and engagement, with town boards and services, regional agencies, and recreational youth organizations.

The meHUB committee brings together members of both communities, including town boards and services, youth organizations and law enforcement. Everyone in the community is encouraged to take part in meHUB and its mission to foster positive youth development, support healthy families and create an environment where young people are engaged and seen as resources.

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Todd J. Fitzgerald Sworn In as New Manchester-by-the-Sea Police Chief

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Manchester-by-the-Sea Police Department
Todd Fitzgerald, Chief of Police
10 Central Street
Manchester by the Sea, MA 01944

For Immediate Release

Friday, Nov. 15, 2019

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

Todd J. Fitzgerald Sworn In as New Manchester-by-the-Sea Police Chief

Chief Todd J. Fitzgerald was sworn in to his new role on Thursday, Nov. 14. (Courtesy Photo Manchester-by-the-Sea Police Department)

MANCHESTER-BY-THE-SEA — The Manchester-by-the-Sea Police Department is pleased to announce that Todd J. Fitzgerald has officially begun his new role as Chief.

Chief Fitzgerald, a 28 year veteran of the department, was sworn in by Town Clerk Christina St. Pierre at a ceremony overseen by the Board of Selectmen at the Masonic Temple on Church Street at 7 p.m. on Thursday, and officially assumed his new position on Nov. 4. He has served as the department’s acting chief since April 1, and also previously served as acting chief from February 2016 to October 2016.

“As someone who has served the Town of Manchester-by-the-Sea for my entire career, it’s an incredible honor to take on this position, and I plan to use my experience and knowledge to ensure this department continues to provide the highest quality policing services possible to our community,” Chief Fitzgerald said.

As Chief, he plans to promote a Lieutenant, Sergeant and Patrolman, and also to maintain accreditation as a department, a signifier that an agency meets an extensive list of the highest quality policing standards.

Chief Fitzgerald is also currently pursing a master’s degree in Criminal Justice from California Coast University. In 2015, he earned a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from New England College in Henniker, N.H.

A lifelong resident of Manchester-by-the-Sea, Chief Fitzgerald is also an alumnus of the former Manchester Junior-Senior High School.

Prior to serving as acting chief, he served as a Lieutenant and the Department’s Executive Officer for approximately five years, working as the second in command of the police department. He was tasked with responsibilities including the administration and supervision of aspects of the department including accreditation, deployment of personnel, training, community policing, dispatch operations and internal affairs.

He began his career with the department in 1989 as a beach patrol officer and assistant harbormaster, and since then advanced from reserve/intermittent patrolman to patrolman/detective, to police sergeant in 2008.

Chief Fitzgerald has undergone extensive professional development and leadership training, including surf and shoreline rescue, air/sea rescue training, basic harbormaster academy, four day basic detective training, incident response to terrorist bombings, polishing the badge leadership training, sergeants leadership training, 911 liability training, police accountability and discipline for executives and a ten month police executive development training for police at the Municipal Police Institute (MPI).

He is additionally a certified Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and certified Sexual Assault Investigator, and graduated from the 93rd FBI LEEDA Executive Leadership Institute, 152nd FBI LEEDA Command Institute and FBI LEEDA Supervisor Leadership Institute this April. He received the FBI LEEDA trilogy award for leadership training in April.

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Manchester-by-the-Sea and Essex Police Investigating Rumored Threat Made against School via Social Media

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, Sept. 13, 2019

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

Manchester-by-the-Sea and Essex Police Investigating Rumored Threat Made against School via Social Media

No Credible Threat Made Against Schools

MANCHESTER-BY-THE-SEA — Interim Manchester Police Chief Todd Fitzgerald and Essex Police Chief Paul Francis report that their respective police departments took immediate action and investigated a rumored threat made against Manchester Essex Regional Middle High School via social media.

The investigation has determined that no actual or credible threats have been made and that there is no danger to the school district.

On Thursday evening, police received a report that a threatening post was made via Snapchat, allegedly by a Manchester Essex Regional Middle High School student. Multiple students were interviewed, and police have determined that a personal dispute between two male students apparently spilled over onto social media, however there is no threat to the greater school system.

The police departments will collect their findings and forward all pertinent information to the Manchester Essex Regional School District for possible disciplinary follow-up at the school-level.

The school district has cooperated fully with the police investigation.

Out of an abundance of caution,the school district has requested and families may notice an increased police presence at the Middle High School on Friday.

Both police departments and the school district take safety of students and staff very seriously.

“We take all threats and rumored threats very seriously,” Chief Fitzgerald said. “This situation appears to be limited to a dispute between two students, and while we are thankful that it appears as though no threat exists to the schools, we will work with all parties and the school district to ensure everyone understands the law and school policy as it relates to how we should treat one another.”

Any resident with questions or concerns may call the Manchester-by-the Sea (978-526-1212) or Essex (978-768-6628) Police Departments anytime.

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Manchester-by-the-Sea Police Complete One Mind Campaign Pledge to Better Serve those Suffering from Mental Illness

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Manchester-by-the-Sea Police Department
Todd Fitzgerald, Interim Chief of Police
10 Central Street
Manchester by the Sea, MA 01944

For Immediate Release

Wednesday, June 12, 2019

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

Manchester-by-the-Sea Police Complete One Mind Campaign Pledge to Better Serve those Suffering from Mental Illness

MANCHESTER-BY-THE-SEA — Interim Chief Todd Fitzgerald is pleased to announce that the Manchester-by-the-Sea Police Department has completed its pledge through the One Mind Campaign to improve its response to those suffering from mental illness.

In October 2017, the Manchester Police Department pledged to join the One Mind Campaign, an initiative that was started by the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) in an effort to improve the interactions between law enforcement agencies and those with mental illnesses. Departments that pledge to join the campaign are challenged to implement practices within their agency to improve mental health programming, training and procedure within a one to three year time period.

The IACP also provides resources to departments that pledge to join the One Mind Campaign, including a toolkit produced by the Bureau of Justice Assistance with resources for law enforcement agencies looking to partner with mental health providers, a model policy for law enforcement when responding to persons suffering from mental illness, and resources for planning mental health first aid and crisis intervention team program trainings.

“By pledging to this campaign it provided our officers the necessary tools and the ability to take a more proactive approach to helping residents affected by mental illness,” Chief Fitzgerald said.

The Manchester Police Department has implemented several initiatives to improve its mental health relations, including the establishment of a sustainable relationship with Lahey Behavioral Health, the creation and implementation of a model policy to address officers’ interactions with those affected by mental illness and mental health awareness and crisis intervention training for all full-time staff.

Manchester Police Sgt. Stephen Louf and Essex Police Sgt. Paul Francis have also organized and spearheaded the creation of an Overdose Outreach Follow-Up Team, comprised of members from both departments as well as Lahey Behavioral Health professionals and representatives from One Stop, a free prevention and screening service based out of Gloucester. The Overdose Outreach Follow-Up Team will meet with residents who have experienced a recent overdose and offer a variety of treatment options for substance abuse recovery.

“We need to take a proactive approach when dealing with mental illness,” Chief Fitzgerald said. “Even though our yearly numbers are small, if we can make a difference in one person’s life, then I feel that this team has done its job.”

The Manchester Police Department received a certificate of completion for fulfilling the goals of its One Mind Pledge from the IACP in May.

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