Plymouth County Outreach Honored With National Community Policing Award

October 10, 2018 by Benjamin Paulin

Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018

Media Contact: Benjamin Paulin
Phone: 781-742-3922
Email: ben@jgpr.net

Plymouth County Outreach Honored With National Community Policing Award

ORLANDO, FLORIDA — The Police Chiefs of Plymouth County are pleased to announce that Plymouth County Outreach (PCO) was awarded the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Leadership in Community Policing Award Tuesday night.

Several PCO representatives were in Orlando, Florida on Tuesday to accept the award during the 2018 IACP Annual Conference and Exposition – including many Plymouth County police chiefs, District Attorney Timothy Cruz and Sheriff Deputy Superintendent James Muscato.

The Leadership in Community Policing Award recognizes outstanding community policing initiatives undertaken by law enforcement agencies across the world. The award is given to police agencies whose best practices in community policing utilize collaboration and partnerships to make their communities safer. PCO received the award for its continued, collaborative efforts to combat the opioid epidemic.

“Being recognized among our peer police chiefs from across the country and the world was truly an honor,” said East Bridgewater Police Chief Scott Allen, who attended the event. “Plymouth County Outreach, and the collaborative approach we have taken with our partners in law enforcement, is truly helping to break down the stigma of addiction. It’s an honor to have our efforts and approach recognized as a success.”

The IACP Annual Banquet featured the formal swearing-in of the IACP president and board of officers and the presentation of the Leadership Awards. The a black-tie affair Tuesday night featured music and dancing in the ballroom of the Orange County Convention Center.

The IACP conference was held from Oct. 6-9 and was highlighted by a visit and speech from President Donald Trump on Monday, who heralded the efforts of law enforcement officers and stressed the importance of officer safety.

“We believe Plymouth County Outreach is a vital resource to the residents in our communities and it is our mission to continue to help those struggling with addiction,” said Plymouth Police Chief Michael Botieri, who also attended Tuesday’s ceremony. “Being honored with this award will only strengthen our approach and I look forward to seeing what PCO can accomplish in the future.”

Last week, PCO was awarded a $500,000 grant as part of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) Program through the U.S. Department of Justice. The grant funds will allow PCO to hire two full-time program coordinators and will help to improve its data-collecting and data analyzing capabilities.

Plymouth County Outreach is an opioid prevention and recovery coalition made up of 27 municipal police departments in Plymouth County, along with the Bridgewater State University Police.

In addition to its partners, PCO has a Chiefs Advisory Board that includes Brockton Signature Healthcare’s Dr. Daniel Muse, South Shore Hospital’s Dr. Jason Tracy and Timothy Quigley, Plymouth Public Health Director Dr. Nathaniel Horowitz-Willis and Beth Israel Deaconess-Plymouth’s Dr. Alejandro Dan Mendoza.

About Plymouth County Outreach:

Plymouth County Outreach is a collaborative of police departments throughout Plymouth County led by the following chiefs: Abington Chief David Majenski, Bridgewater Chief Christopher Delmonte, Bridgewater State University Chief David Tillinghast, Brockton Chief John Crowley, Brockton Police Lt. Richard Linehan, Carver Chief Marc Duphily, Duxbury Chief Matthew Clancy, East Bridgewater Chief Scott Allen, Halifax Chief Ted Broderick, Hanover Chief Walter Sweeney, Hanson Chief Michael Miksch, Hingham Chief Glenn Olsson, Hull Chief John Dunn, Kingston Chief Maurice Splaine, Lakeville Chief Frank Alvihiera, Marion Chief John Garcia, Marshfield Chief Phillip Tavares, Mattapoisett Chief Mary Lyons, Middleboro Chief Joseph Perkins, Norwell Chief Ted Ross, Pembroke Chief Richard Wall, Plymouth Chief Michael Botieri, Plympton Chief Patrick Dillon, Rochester Chief Robert Small, Rockland Chief John Llewellyn, Scituate Chief Michael Stewart, Wareham Chief John Walcek, West Bridgewater Chief Victor Flaherty and Whitman Chief Scott D. Benton.

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Plymouth County Outreach to Receive $500,000 Federal Grant

October 3, 2018 by Benjamin Paulin

Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2018

Media Contact: Benjamin Paulin
Phone: 781-742-3922
Email: ben@jgpr.net

Plymouth County Outreach to Receive $500,000 Federal Grant

The Police Chiefs of Plymouth County are pleased to announce that Plymouth County Outreach (PCO) has been awarded a federal grant that will significantly improve the services provided by the group in the coming years.

PCO will receive the $496,650 grant as part of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) Program through the U.S. Department of Justice.

The award is among the first major federal funding grants to go toward substance use disorder treatment and recovery legislation, with the aim of addressing the ongoing opioid epidemic.

“We are incredibly fortunate to have been selected by the DOJ for the CARA grant and these funds will hopefully go a long way toward helping our Plymouth County residents who have been impacted by the opioid crisis and their families,” East Bridgewater Police Chief Scott Allen said.

The funds, which will be dispersed over the next two years, will allow PCO to hire two full-time staff members – a Project Coordinator and an Operations Supervisor. Those positions will allow PCO to offer better resources to individuals who are in need of treatment in a more streamlined and effective fashion.

“We will be looking to hire two full-time staff members who are dedicated to working with Plymouth County residents each and every day and can represent Plymouth County Outreach in all of our communities,” Middleborough Police Chief Joseph Perkins said.

In addition, the money will allow PCO to improve their Critical Incident Management System database, which tracks the number of overdoses in the region and allows for research and detailed analysis of the data collected to be studied by PCO’s treatment and healthcare partners.

“In receiving this grant from the federal government this shows, I believe, that our program and approach is on the forefront of combining the efforts of law enforcement, healthcare providers and treatment professionals in providing care to those opioid users in our communities who are in need,” Plymouth Police Chief Michael Botieri said.

In addition to Plymouth County Outreach, 11 other Massachusetts programs will receive a total of $8.4 million in grant funding:

Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office awarded $541,300
Middlesex District Attorney’s Office awarded one grant of $360,000 and one of $500,000
Boston Police Department awarded $305,362
City of Holyoke Police Department awarded $448,025
Massachusetts Administrative Office of the Trial Court awarded $1.5 million
Advocates for Human Potential awarded $1.55 million
City of Worcester awarded $744,668
Franklin County Sheriff’s Office awarded $1 million
LUK Crisis Center awarded $500,000

“In 2017, over 2,000 Massachusetts residents died from drug overdoses,” said United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling. “The opioid crisis is an unprecedented public health crisis in the United States, but we are committed to the President’s plan to end the epidemic through prevention, treatment and enforcement. With over $8 million in federal grant funding, programs in Massachusetts can expand to serve larger populations, increase services, and support those who are most impacted by this deadly epidemic. I applaud the grant recipients for their commitment to serve their communities in this way.”

Plymouth County Outreach is an opioid prevention and recovery coalition made up of 27 municipal police departments in Plymouth County, along with the Bridgewater State University Police. The chiefs have partnered with the offices of District Attorney Timothy Cruz and Sheriff Joseph McDonald to take a multi-jurisdictional approach to dealing with the opioid epidemic.

Today, several member chiefs met to discuss the announcement of the grant.

“The work being done by our partners in law enforcement and the treatment and healthcare industries is vital to combating this deadly epidemic. In Plymouth County and everywhere else, one overdose death is one too many,” Hanover Police Chief Walter Sweeney said.

Next week, PCO will be honored by the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and will be receiving the Leadership in Community Policing Award on Oct. 9 in Orlando, Florida.

About Plymouth County Outreach: Plymouth County Outreach is a collaborative of police departments throughout Plymouth County led by the following chiefs: Abington Chief David Majenski, Bridgewater Chief Christopher Delmonte, Bridgewater State University Chief David Tillinghast, Brockton Chief John Crowley, Brockton Police Lt. Richard Linehan, Carver Chief Marc Duphily, Duxbury Chief Matthew Clancy, East Bridgewater Chief Scott Allen, Halifax Chief Ted Broderick, Hanover Chief Walter Sweeney, Hanson Chief Michael Miksch, Hingham Chief Glenn Olsson, Hull Chief John Dunn, Kingston Chief Maurice Splaine, Lakeville Chief Frank Alvihiera, Marion Chief John Garcia, Marshfield Chief Phillip Tavares, Mattapoisett Chief Mary Lyons, Middleboro Chief Joseph Perkins, Norwell Chief Ted Ross, Pembroke Chief Richard Wall, Plymouth Chief Michael Botieri, Plympton Chief Patrick Dillon, Rochester Chief Robert Small, Rockland Chief John Llewellyn, Scituate Chief Michael Stewart, Wareham Chief John Walcek, West Bridgewater Chief Victor Flaherty and Whitman Chief Scott D. Benton.

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Hull Police Charge Man After OUI Crash into House

August 13, 2018 by Benjamin Paulin

Hull Police Department
Chief John Dunn
1 School Street
Hull, MA 02045

For Immediate Release

Monday, Aug. 13, 2018

Contact: Benjamin Paulin
Phone: 781-428-3299
Email: ben@jgpr.net

Hull Police Charge Man After OUI Crash into House

HULL — Chief John Dunn reports that the Hull Police Department arrested a man and charged him with crashing into a home while driving drunk over the weekend.

THOMAS MACIVER, AGE 21, OF HULL, is charged with OUI Liquor and Marked Lanes Violation.

At approximately 2:41 a.m. Sunday, police responded to a home on Phipps Street after a vehicle crashed into a house.

Upon arrival, officers spoke with the driver, later identified as MACIVER, and through the subsequent investigation it was determined that he had allegedly been driving under the influence of alcohol.

MACIVER was placed under arrest and taken to the Hull Police station to be booked.

Two passengers in his vehicle were transported to a local hospital with injuries that are believed to be non-life threatening. No other injuries were reported.

The home sustained damage to a front porch and the town’s building inspector was called to the scene.

In searching MACIVER’S vehicle, police found multiple miniature bottles of liquor, or “nips,” that were unopened.

MACIVER is expected to be arraigned today in Hingham District Court.

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

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Hull Police Department Responds to Apartment Fire on Nantasket Avenue

June 29, 2018 by Benjamin Paulin

Hull Police Department
Chief John Dunn
1 School Street
Hull, MA 02045

For Immediate Release

Friday, June 29, 2018

Contact: Benjamin Paulin
Phone: 781-428-3299
Email: ben@jgpr.net

Hull Police Department Responds to Apartment Fire on Nantasket Avenue

HULL — Chief John Dunn reports that the Hull Police Department responded to an apartment fire on Nantasket Avenue Friday afternoon.

At approximately 4 p.m., Hull Police were notified about a fire alarm at 527 Nantasket Ave. The building is a multi-family apartment building.

When officers arrived, a male resident of the apartment where the fire was occurring was uncooperative and would not leave the unit. Multiple officers had to go inside the building in order to get the man out safely.

He was placed in protective custody and taken to a local hospital for evaluation.

Three police officers suffered minor smoke inhalation and were transported to the hospital out of an abundance of caution.

The rest of the residents were able to make it out of the building safely and no other injuries were reported.

Firefighters from the Hull Fire Department quickly extinguished the flames. The unit where the fire occurred sustained significant damage and other units had smoke and water damage. Utilities in the building have been temporarily shut off.

Six families living in the building were all displaced and most were being assisted by the American Red Cross.

Investigators from the State Fire Marshal’s office have been called to the scene. The initial investigation indicates that the fire originated in the kitchen. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Nantasket Avenue will be closed until the scene is cleared.

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Hull Police Remind Residents that Fireworks are Illegal in Massachusetts

June 25, 2018 by Benjamin Paulin

Hull Police Department
Chief John Dunn
1 School Street
Hull, MA 02045

For Immediate Release

Monday, June 25, 2018

Contact: Benjamin Paulin
Phone: 781-428-3299
Email: ben@jgpr.net

Hull Police Remind Residents that Fireworks are Illegal in Massachusetts

HULL — With the Fourth of July coming up next week, Chief John Dunn urges residents to leave fireworks to the professionals and reminds them that possessing or using fireworks in the state of Massachusetts is against the law.

It is illegal to use, possess or sell fireworks of any kind in Massachusetts, including Class C fireworks, which are sometimes falsely called “safe and sane fireworks.”

Class C fireworks include sparklers, party poppers, snappers, firecrackers, spinners, cherry bombs and more. Massachusetts residents are also prohibited from purchasing fireworks elsewhere and transporting them into the state.

Additionally, while officials cannot prohibit the advertising and sale of fireworks by mail, police can and will confiscate illegal shipments. Many consumers attempting to circumvent the law have lost both their money and their fireworks.

“Fireworks, like sparklers, seem harmless, but can easily cause burns if mishandled,” said Chief Dunn. “Please set a good example for your children and do not use fireworks. Residents can watch the many professional displays across the region the week of the Fourth of July.”

The Office of the State Fire Marshal reports that from 2007-2016, there were 826 major fire and explosion incidents involving illegal fireworks reported to the Massachusetts Fire Incident Reporting System. These incidents caused 11 civilian injuries, five fire service injuries and an estimated loss of $1.8 million.

In addition to injuries, the sound created by fireworks exploding can cause stress, which can be experienced by people who may be sensitive to loud noises, such as the elderly and veterans who may suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Pets may also be susceptible to such noises.

This does not mean residents cannot enjoy fireworks displays over the course of the summer. However, Chief Dunn recommends that residents only attend celebrations put on by a licensed professional to ensure safety.

Residents should also remember to:

Watch fireworks displays from a safe distance
Call 911 if anyone gets injured by fireworks
Set a positive example for children by not using illegal fireworks. If kids see adults using them, they may not realize the dangers and could be encouraged to pick up matches or lighters
Be careful around even the smallest fireworks. Sparklers burn at 1,800 degrees and could easily cause severe burns and injuries

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that fireworks can cause death and injury, including burns, loss of limbs or extremities, contusions, lacerations and eye injuries.

Fifty-one percent of fireworks-related burn injuries reported by hospitals to the Office of the State Fire Marshal from 2007-2016 were to children under age 18. More than a quarter of the victims were children under age 10.

Anyone who has questions about fireworks or firework safety should contact the Hull Police Department at 781-925-1212.

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