The Wrentham Times

DA Morrissey hosts training For School Resource Officers

Officers from ten local departments – including Steve Hearon from Wrentham – took part in a two-day seminar for School Resource Officers sponsored by Norfolk District Attorney Michael W. Morrissey. The course instructor, Michelle Palladini, is a detective with the Norfolk Police Department assigned as school resource officer at King Philip Middle School. She presents across the region to other officers, parents and teachers. The program name is the acronym for Leadership, Empowerment, Awareness, and Protection.

“Modern SRO’s are not just stationed at our schools like detail officers at a sporting event, they are – ideally – integrated into the life of the school and the lives of the students,” District Attorney Morrissey said, during a break at the January 30 and 31st training held at the Foxborough Public Safety Building.

“The L.E.A.P training sessions focus on strategies and scenarios where the officers become agents of skill building and positive learning for the students,” District Attorney Morrissey said. “It integrates research on social-emotional learning into the work that officers do in our schools. Officer Palladino started by looking at what research shows makes kids happy, healthy, safe and resilient,” and then looked at how SROs can help build those skills.

“Each school has its own culture and climate. Healthy, positive schools are safer schools,” Morrissey said. “The success of our school resource officers depends both on the caliber of the person in that role and in the quality of training and support they get. The L.E.A.P Model for Student Success was a natural resource to share with the student resource officers in Norfolk County.”

Morrissey thanked Foxborough Police Chief William Baker for donating the use of the training space at his police station.

Here's to a Sweet Retirement, Chief!

Wrentham Police Chief Jim Anderson retired at the end of last year. Tonight his family and friends celebrate his 30 year career at Lake Pearl Luciano's.

From The Wrentham Times, we congratulate Chief Anderson and wish him a SWEET RETIREMENT!

From Wrentham Police Department

SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY

Monday night, July 17 at about 7:45 p.m., a suspicious incident occurred in the area of Ingrid Drive.

A thirteen year old boy walking his dog reported two men in a white Honda SUV stopped and asked him for directions. One man was described as white, between 40 and 50 years old, wearing a Patriots shirt. The other man was desribed as dark skinned, 40 to 50 years old, wearing glasses and a black and green beanie.

The boy stated the men asked him to get into the vehicle and show them the location they were looking for. The boy became nervous and fled to a neighbor's house. The suspect vehicle fled, turning right on Chectnut Street toward Birch Street in Franklin.

Anyone having information, please contact the Wrentham Police. 508-384-2121

Lt. George Labonte Blood Drive

LT. GEORGE LABONTE BLOOD DRIVE @ LAKE PEARL LUCIANO'S. JULY 5th 1:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

On Wednesday, July 5th, Lt. George Labonte Blood Drive is schedule at Lake Pearl Luciano's, from 1:30 to 7 p.m. Thankfully, Labonte, a Wrentham Police lieutenant, doesn't need blood but organizers are "using George to get blood for others who need it right now. We're hoping all of you, who have been so supportive of George through his continuing battle with medullary thyroid cancer, will honor his fight by giving your blood to help others. like YOU donate blood, the person who needs it to save their life right now, gets it right now."

Labonte's fight against medullary thyroid cancer is well documented in the press and social media and the community has rallied around him and his family through fundraisers and good wishes. According to the Wrentham Police Department Facebook page, his cancer is considered stable at this time and not in remission. But, he is back at work and can be seen around time in his uniform. 

In the same spirit that Wrentham supported Labonte the blood drive organizers hope to surpass last year's total of 95 pints of blood and hit triple digits.

Registration Forms for Dare to Dream Summer Program are Available

Registration forms are out for the 2017 DARE to Dream Summer Day Program. Information on important dates and forms are located on the group's website at www.daretodreamsummer.com. There is also an active Facebook page that regularly has updates, pictures, and information related to the program. Summer Schedule by Grades:

Grade 6 entering grade 7 June 26-30 (M-F)

Grade 7 entering grade 8 July 17-21 (M-F)

Grade 3 program July 24 and 25 (Monday, Tuesday)

Grade 4 entering grade 5 July 31- Aug 4 (M-F)

Grade 5 entering grade 6 Aug 14-18 (M-F)

DARE to Dream Summer Day Program serves childres grades 3 through 7 from Wrentham, Plainville, Norfolk, Walpole and North Attleboro.

 

 

Wrentham Police offer Citizens Police Academy

The Wrentham Police Department is pleased to announce the commencement of a Citizens Police Academy. The Academy will run from 6 to 8:30 p.m. for six consecutive Tuesday’s, beginning on Tuesday, May 23, 2017 and conclude on June 27, 2017. This informational academy will be held in the public safety training room, located on the main floor of the Public Safety building.

The Citizen Police Academy is designed to familiarize citizens with the operation and function of the Wrentham Police Department. Classes will cover various topics such as Criminal Law, Patrol Procedures, Domestic Violence, Motor Vehicle Enforcement, Identity Theft, Emergency Communication Center, Court Procedures, and Use of Force.

There is no charge to attend, however, you must be 18 years or older. The class is limited to 25 applicants. Applications may be picked up at the Wrentham Police Department, 89 South Street or email Lt. George Labonte at labonte@police.wrentham.ma.us. The application must be submitted or emailed to Lt. Labonte by Wednesday May 10, 2017. Preference will be given to Wrentham residents.

Marijuana Legalization Seminar Attended by Local Police

More than 160 regional public health, law enforcement, education and municipal leaders – including Wrentham Detective Sgt. James Barrett, Norfolk Police Detective Michelle Palladini, and Plainville Police Lt. James Floyd – joined District Attorney Michael W. Morrissey at his “Marijuana Legalization – Community Strategies” seminar last week to learn about the public health, safety and governance issues and problems related to the new law.

“The ballot question was designed to maximize corporate profit, without regard for graceful or efficient implementation. That leaves towns and cities with a lot of unanswered questions,” said District Attorney Morrissey, whose office organized the seminar in partnership with the Canton Alliance Against Substance Abuse, Needham Public Health, Walpole Police and Stoughton U-Knighted.

Attorney Katherine Laughman from the firm Kopelman & Paige led with a presentation on regulation and taxation of marijuana, including the steps towns need to take to regulate employees getting high at work – since marijuana will no longer be defined as a controlled substance – and ways to zone where pot shops can locate.

With an audience that was almost half police officers, Attorney John Scheft from Law Enforcement Dimensions detailed the intricacies of enforcing the new hodgepodge of law, where a citizen can grow 6 marijuana plants at their home legally, but to do so at a second home or rented space is a crime. A landscape where minors can be charged with possession for the marijuana inside their bodies after they consume it -- unlike any other drug.

Walpole Police Chief John Carmichael, whose personal research into the impacts marijuana legalization has included visiting Colorado manufacturing and selling facilities, and Needham Health and Human Services Director Timothy McDonald joined Scheft and Laughman to field questions from the group.

We may not have been able to answer every question for the towns, and there are many things that will be fleshed out through the courts in the years to come,” District Attorney Morrissey said. “But if we pool our resources and work together, the coming changes can be less chaotic and less disruptive to public safety and quality of life.”

Plainville Police Officer Struck By Car

At approximately 10 a.m. Sunday, January 8, 2017, officers were dispatched to TARGET Department Store, located at 91 Taunton St., Plainville, for a reported shoplifting in progress.

Officer Todd Holbrook, one of the responding officers, approached the suspect as he entered a vehicle in the parking lot. The suspect then put the car in drive and struck Officer Holbrook as he fled from the Plaza.

Officer Holbrook was transported to Rhode Island Hospital by ambulance with non life threatening injuries to his lower extremities. He was later released from the hospital. 

The suspect vehicle was bearing MA registration 6SM550, which is a revoked license plate. The vehicle being sought is a small grey or silver Ford Focus, 4 door.

The suspect is described as a white male, late 20s to early 30s, approximately 6 feet tall. He was wearing a black jacket with "MAC Tools" on the upper left chest and on the back in red lettering. Red hoodie under the jacket, dark pants, red hat with a white stripe. Dark hair, and facial hair.

There were numerous customers in the parking lot, and we are in the process of interviewing them, as well as attempting to identify the suspect in this case. When there is more information available, we will release it in a timely fashion.

In the meantime, we appreciate any and all positive wishes for Officer Holbrook's speedy and complete recovery. (Press release from Plainville Police Department)