stoneham

Stoneham Police to Charge Malden Man for Discharging Firearm Near School on Wednesday

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Stoneham Police Department
Chief James McIntyre
47 Central Street
Stoneham, MA 02180-2044

For Immediate Release

Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003

Stoneham Police to Charge Malden Man for Discharging Firearm Near School 

STONEHAM — Chief James McIntyre reports that the Stoneham Police Department will charge a man after gunshots rang out near two schools in town.

A 52-YEAR-OLD MALE FROM MALDEN is charged with:

  • Discharging a Firearm within 500 Feet of a Dwelling
  • Improper Storage of a Firearm
  • Violation of a Town Bylaw Relating to the Discharge of a Firearm
  • Disorderly Conduct
  • Disturbing the Peace

On Wednesday, Nov. 7, the Stoneham Police Department received multiple 911 calls reporting gunshots in the area of Karen Drive. Police units were immediately dispatched to the area.

As police units were responding to the scene, two nearby schools, Stoneham High School and Colonial Park School, were contacted and requested to shelter in place out of an abundance of caution. During a shelter in place, access to the buildings are restricted, but normal educational activities continue.

As police arrived in the area, they encountered several people in the yard of 4 Karen Drive. Officers spoke with the parties who provided conflicting stories as to what they were doing and denied shooting any firearms. The parties further stated that the sounds of the gunshots were likely from a pneumatic nail gun being used by nearby roofers. While on scene, officers located multiple freshly spent shell casings in the backyard at the residence.

Melrose Police and Massachusetts State Police K-9 units, along with the State Police Air Wing, responded for mutual aid to search the nearby woods as part of the investigation.

The investigation determined that the Malden man had allegedly been shooting at a target on a tree in the yard of the Karen Drive property. A 9 mm handgun was recovered.

The suspect had a valid license to carry firearms, but it is illegal to discharge a firearm near a dwelling.

The shelter in place advisories were quickly lifted at both schools, and students were dismissed as regularly scheduled.

“The individual involved in this incident clearly exercised poor judgement in unlawfully discharging a firearm in a residential neighborhood, in close proximity to multiple schools and homes,” Chief McIntyre said. “We are thankful that neighborhood residents and nearby school personnel reacted as quickly as they did to alert us to a potentially dangerous situation. I would like to thank our law enforcement partners – the Massachusetts State Police, Melrose Police and Woburn Police Departments for their assistance in bringing this incident to a successful resolution.”

These are allegations. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty.

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Stoneham Police Dispose of Nearly 190 Pounds of Drugs On Take Back Day

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Stoneham Police Department
Chief James McIntyre
47 Central Street
Stoneham, MA 02180-2044

For Immediate Release

Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003

Stoneham Police Dispose of Nearly 190 Pounds of Drugs On Take Back Day

STONEHAM — Chief James McIntyre is very pleased to report that the Stoneham Police Department, working once again in collaboration with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), disposed of 189 pounds of unwanted and unneeded prescription medications during National Drug Take Back Day last month.

The prescription medications were collected thorough the police department’s unwanted medication kiosk , located in the lobby of the station. On Oct. 27, the medications were then turned over to the DEA for proper disposal.

“Every dose of unwanted and expired prescription drugs we can remove from circulation during these take-back day events is one fewer chance for them to end up in the wrong hands,” Chief McIntyre said. “I am very pleased with the turnout once again this year, and I want to thank the DEA for their partnership in this great community initiative.”

National Drug Take Back Day is a free and anonymous event coordinated by the DEA and police departments. The event gives the public an opportunity to prevent substance abuse by disposing of potentially dangerous expired, unused, or unwanted prescription drugs in their possession. The DEA accepted pills and patches, but does not take liquids, needles, or sharps.

During its 16th Take Back Day on Oct. 27, the DEA, and more than 4,700 law enforcement agencies in all 50 state collected 914,236 pounds (about 457 tons) of unwanted prescription drugs. Nearly 11 million pounds have been collected in total during the 16 semi-annual take-back days.

This initiative addresses a vital public health issue. Easily accessible, unused prescriptions in homes are highly susceptible to abuse and misuse. Studies have shown that the majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including the home medicine cabinet. Residents are advised to avoid disposing of unused medications by flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the garbage, as these methods have potential safety and health risks.

Residents who were unable to attend the National Drug Take Back Day can also drop off their prescription drugs at the Stoneham Police Department’s MedReturn kiosk in the police station lobby, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs, visit the DEA Take Back Day website or contact Stoneham Police at 781-438-1215.

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Stoneham Police to Host Coffee with a Cop Event

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Stoneham Police Department
Chief James McIntyre
47 Central Street
Stoneham, MA 02180-2044

For Immediate Release

Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003

*MEDIA ADVISORY*

Stoneham Police to Host Coffee with a Cop Event

Residents Reminded of Community Survey Available Ongoing at Stonehampdsurvey.com

STONEHAM — Chief James McIntyre announces that the Stoneham Police Department will conduct a “Coffee with a Cop” event later this month, offering community members and Stoneham police officers the opportunity to get to know each other over coffee and snacks and discuss the issues that are most important in town.

“Coffee with a Cop is a wonderful opportunity for community members to interact with police officers in a comfortable, routine setting,” Chief McIntyre said. “I encourage everyone to come out on the 28th and get to know their police department.”

The event is being coordinated by Officer Ken Bowdidge of the Stoneham Community Policing Unit.

WHEN:

Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2018 from 4-6 p.m.

WHERE:

Dunkin Donuts, 128 Franklin St., Stoneham

As a reminder to all residents, the Stoneham Police Department is also conducting a community survey that will help members of the police department gauge its strengths and understand areas of improvement as it seeks to provide modern, professional public safety services to its citizens.

The survey is completely anonymous. No personal or identifiable information is being collected, and staff will be on-hand with tablets. Visit stonehampdsurvey.com to complete the survey any time.

ABOUT COFFEE WITH A COP:

Coffee with A Cop was launched in Hawthorne, California in 2011 when Officers from the Hawthorne Police Department were looking for ways to interact more successfully with the citizens they served each day. Community policing has long been considered a framework for establishing trust between the community and the police. However, over time the character and composition of our nation’s communities have changed due to shifting demographics, more commuters, and the introduction of different communication methods such as websites and social media.

Police have hit upon a simple plan to break through the barriers that have been built over the years–a cup of coffee.

Coffee with a Cop events are now held in all 50 states and all over the world. It is one of the most successful community oriented policing programs across the country.

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Stoneham Firefighter Graduates from Academy

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Stoneham Fire Department
Chief Matthew Grafton
25 Central Street
Stoneham, MA 02180-2044

For Immediate Release

Monday, Oct. 15, 2018

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 781-533-9398
Email: [email protected]

Stoneham Firefighter Graduates from Academy

Left to right: Firefighter Miles Plant and Chief Matthew Grafton. (Courtesy Photo Stoneham Fire Department)

STONEHAM — Chief Matthew Grafton is pleased to announce that Firefighter Miles Plant graduated from the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy today.

Firefighter Plant completed the 267th class of the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy’s 50-day Career Recruit Firefighter Training Program and was recognized this morning at a ceremony in Stow.

“I want congratulate Firefighter Plant on behalf of the entire department for graduating from this intensive training program,” Chief Grafton said. “He will be a valuable addition to the Stoneham Fire Department.”

Firefighter Plant was sworn into the Stoneham Fire Department on July 9, and entered the academy a few weeks later. He is a 2008 Stoneham High School graduate, holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Massachusetts Lowell, and from 2010 to 2016, he served as a motor vehicle specialist in the Army National Guard. On Oct. 17, Firefighter Plant will become a member of Stoneham Fire Department’s Group 4.

Today’s firefighters do far more than fight fires. They are the first ones called to respond to chemical and environmental emergencies, ranging from the suspected presence of carbon monoxide to a gas leak. They may be called to rescue a child who has fallen through the ice or who has locked himself in a bathroom. They rescue people from stalled elevators and those who are trapped in vehicle crashes. Firefighters test and maintain their equipment, including self-contained breathing apparatus hydrants, hoses, power tools and apparatus.

During the 10-week academy, firefighters learned the basic skills they need to respond to fires, including how to contain and control them, public fire education, hazardous material incident mitigation, flammable liquids, stress management, confined space rescue techniques and rappelling.

To graduate, firefighters were required to demonstrate proficiency in life safety, search and rescue, ladder operations, water supply, pump operation and fire attack (ranging from mailbox fires to multiple-floor or multi-room structural fires).

The 30 graduates, one woman and 29 men, represent the 26 fire departments of: Ashland, Bellingham, Boxborough, Charlton, Dracut, Gardner, Gloucester, Ipswich, Marblehead, Marshfield, New Bedford, North Andover, Northborough, Plymouth, Rockland, Sandwich, Seekonk, Somerset, Stoneham, Sudbury, Taunton, Upton, Walpole, Watertown, Weston and Winchendon.

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