The Wrentham Times

Three Seriously Injured in Car Accident

On Sunday, April 21, at approximately 5:40 p.m., Wrentham Police responded to a single car motor vehicle accident on Rt.140 in the area of 205 Dedham Street. On arrival, officers found three occupants of a 1997 Toyota Corolla all of whom were seriously injured. 

The operator was identified as Rhiannon Gately, date of birth 09/28/81, of 183 Cornell St., Roslindale, MA.  The operator was extricated by Wrentham Fire Department using the Jaws of Life and was transported to a Rhode Island Hospital via Med Flight. The front seat passenger was identified as James A. Gately, date of birth 06/29/78,also from 183 Cornell St., Roslindale, MA. He was seriously injured, was transported to Norwood Hospital and transferred to Brigham & Women's Hospital in Boston. Their child, an 8 year old female, was seriously injured and transported to a Rhode Island Hospital.

Preliminary investigation determined the passenger, James Gately, allegedly grabbed the steering wheel of the vehicle while his wife was driving northbound on Rt. 140. As a result of grabbing of the steering wheel, it is alleged he took over operation of the vehicle, causing it to cross the center line and strike a tree on the southbound shoulder. 

James Gately is charged with Operating Under the Influence of Alcohol, Serious Bodily Injury Resulting; Assault & Battery With a Dangerous Weapon (the vehicle); Operating After Suspension and Child Endangerment. He is in police custody at the Women & Brigham Hospital, held without bail. James Gately will be arraigned on Monday morning, April 22. 2013. 

Norfolk Police assisted at the accident scene along with Mass State Police Accident Reconstruction, Trooper George.
 

Investigation is continuing with Wrentham Officer Saulnier; Officer Cowley and Officer Schwalbe.

Boston Marathon Law Enforcement Response

To “Protect and Serve” is the motto commonly associated with the profession of law enforcement. When a senseless, tragic event occurs, like the attacks of April 15 th, this adage has no boundaries. As such, the Wrentham Police Department has deployed resources to assist our partners in Boston, as part of the Metropolitan Law Enforcement Council (METRO) contingent.

Wrentham is an active member of METRO, a consortium comprised of 42 Police departments and 2 Sheriff’s departments, with hundreds of dedicated officers assigned to respond and assist agencies who have incidents in their cities or towns that will require resources beyond their normal capacity. Obviously, the investigation into the Boston Marathon bombings falls into this category. It is a 24/7 operation, requiring replenishment of personnel, among various other things, for a prolonged amount of time. Our officers are on scene to perform whatever functions are requested by our host agency. The scope of these specific assignments changes on a daily basis. What does not change however, is the unified primary goal of the local, state and federal law enforcement personnel on scene- to bring a renewed sense of security to the resilient residents and business owners of the City of Boston, the strong people of the State of Massachusetts and the proud citizens of United Stated of America.

Six from Wrentham Attend School Shooter Response Training

Three Wrentham Police officers and three members of the school department attended a two-day training on how to save lives in the event of a school shooting, hosted by Norfolk DA Michael Morrissey last week.

“The strict lockdown model has become almost a default protocol to any violent intruder incident,” Morrissey said. “But there is a growing conversation nationally whether a more flexible response, including evacuating the building, barricading the doors and other actions, might not save lives. We wanted to bring Norfolk County schools and police into that conversation, so that they can weigh all of the options available to keep their students safe.”

The Feb. 5 and 6 training was provided by Response Options, a Texas-based school safety firm presented the ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate) Program, developed by Greg and Lisa Crane -  Greg a former SWAT police officer, Lisa a school principal.

Detective Lt. Bill McGrath, Lt. George Labonte, and Sgt. Jeffrey Smith were joined by Principal Steve Grenham and Sam Cederbaum and Lori Detrolio from the school department along with more than 100 other police and educators from across the county. The classroom training was held in donated seminar space at the headquarters of the Bank of Canton; live-action demonstration was held in the now-vacant Avery School in Dedham. The classroom training included an analysis of 25 years of school shooting incidents, and which actions helped end the incidents more quickly with fewer lives lost, and which protocols appeared to be counter-productive.

“The District Attorney’s Office hosted a similar training the month before the Sandy Hook shooting in Connecticut last year, but obviously that event has put a new focus on the issue,” said Morrissey, who used drug forfeiture money to finance the training. “Our towns are all looking at their safety protocols. I think it is important that as we do that, we base our decisions on solid research, lessons learned from previous incidents, and the widest array of information we can collect.”

Morrissey said he hopes the information provided can help towns with future planning. “Every community should have a plan, but that plan must be developed at the local level, with input from the police and school community,” he said.

Preparing for the Storm

FROM THE WRENTHAM POLICE DEPARTMENT: February 7, 2013

The Town of Wrentham, including the Police Department, Office of Emergency Management, Fire Department and Department of Public Works have begun to prepare for the arrival of a potential historic snowstorm which is currently projected to hit the Massachusetts area sometime Friday, February 8, 2013 and lasting into the weekend. This storm has the potential to rival the historic blizzard of 1978 which paralyzed the region with more than two feet of snow and hurricane force winds.

The National Weather Service is calling this storm one of the most significant weather events to hit the east coast of the United States in decades. We are anticipating blizzard conditions, with temperatures in the 20’s, high winds and snow falling two to three inches an hour at the peak of the storm, making traveling almost impossible. They are recommending that people begin taking action immediately to prepare for significant damage caused by high wind and snow drifts.

The Wrentham Police Department encourages residents to begin taking steps immediately to prepare for a significant weather event. The Town of Wrentham has a Winter Parking Ban from December 1^st to April 1^st. This ban prohibits the parking of any motor vehicles on any public way from 6:00pm to 6:00 am. This allows the Department of Public Works to plow and open roads in a more efficient manner. Your cooperation with the parking ban will be greatly appreciated.

Household emergency supplies should include enough food and water supplies to last four days without power. Residents should ensure that they have the following items at a minimum:

• Food that doesn’t require heating or refrigeration, such as canned meats, soups, cereal and energy bars
• Manual can opener
• Paper plates, cups and plastic utensils
• Bottled water
• Flashlights and batteries
• Battery powered radio
• Cell phone and charger
• Four day supply of prescription medicine
• Blanket and cold weather clothing for each family member
• Pet food and water for household pets
• Vehicle filled with gasoline
• If you have a generator make sure it is in working order

Unless evacuated, please stay in your homes for safety reasons and allow public safety personnel to perform their duties to the best of their ability.

If you experience loss of power please call National Grid at 1-800-322-3223 and DO NOT call Wrentham Public Safety Dispatch as they will more than likely be tied up with other emergency situations.

In the event of an emergency during the storm, residents should call 9-1-1. For all other inquiries or to report property damage, please contact the Police Department at 508-384-2121 to speak with a police dispatcher.

Updates will be sent via this service as more information becomes available. All residents are urged to track the movements of this storm via weather and news outlets and to take precautions as needed.

DARE to Dream Summer Day Program Announces Dates

The DARE to Dream Summer Day Program is pleased to announce its dates for 2013.

The 2013 dates are the following:

Current grade six entering grade seven - June 24-28 (Monday thru Friday)

Current grades seven and eight - July 8-12 (Monday thru Friday) Current grade four entering grade five - August 5-9 (Monday thru Friday)

Current grade five entering grade six - August 12-16 (Monday thru Friday)

In April, children will receive a registration form from school. The registration form will also be made available at that time from the DARE to Dream Summer Day Program website. The web site contains great photos, directions and program information.

Also, a great way to stay informed on the program is to like The DARE to Dream Summer Day Program Facebook Fan Page. The DARE to Dream Summer Day Program is entering its 21st season and hopes to have another exciting fun filled summer.

Walter Reed Hospital Christmas: From the Wrentham Police Association Blog

By Sgt. James Barrett

On December 18th, 2012, I was honored to be able to hand out gifts at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on behalf of the Wrentham Police Association the Wrentham Police Department, and the Massachusetts Coalition of Police. It is not often that I am so moved as to sit and write about an experience, this was a moment worthy of documentation and of telling.

To read the entire post visit the Wrentham Police Assocation Blog. 

Police Simulate a Shooter Loose at the Mall

The police radio crackles and the words “shots fired at the mall” cut through the air. A white male in a fishing style cap and blue jeans is identified as the shooter. Four Wrentham police officers arrive on the scene at the Wrentham Premium Outlet Mall making their way from the parking lot to Colonial Court as shoppers are frantically running away from the shots. The police pause because they spot a man that fits the description, but he doesn’t appear to be a threat and shots continue to be heard off in the distance. Right under the clock, outside in the center of Colonial Court, the open space near the food pavilion is the active shooter. He holds an automatic weapon and he continues to shoot. The air fills with smoke and the four Wrentham police officers head towards the gunman, hiding behind poles that partially concealed their bodies.

Wrentham Sgt. Jeffrey Smith yells, “Bang, bang, bang” and the shooter places his gun down gently and lies on the ground, playing dead or hurt. The police approach and make sure the shooter is down.

This scene played out multiple times on a rainy, pre-hurricane, Sunday night at the mall as part of a training exercise for the Wrentham Police Department that all officers were required to attend. To give the training session realism, a huge cast of players was assembled giving the night the feel of a Hollywood production. The shooter's gun fired blanks that sounded like the real deal. There were three dozen extras, mostly citizens from the West Wrentham Citizens Watch and members of  King Philip Drama Club. Also on hand was MetroLec SWAT (Metropolitan Law Enforcement Council Special Weapons & Response Team), and Wrentham Police and Fire departments. The training exercises were designed to provide as much realism as possible. “You have to train that way,” says Wrentham Police Chief James Anderson. “A situation like this could happen.”

According to MetroLec  Sgt. Jason Brennan, in the past eight years there have been a dozen shootings in shopping malls throughout the country and that training at the Wrentham Premium Outlets made sense. Much of the active shooter training law enforcement receives is around schools but an outdoor mall provides a different setting with unique challeges. “We focus on schools but [shopping malls] offer a different environment,” he says. “Malls are open area venues.”

Brennan commended the Wrentham Police Department and the security at the Outlets, and in particular Wrentham Lt. Barry McGrath, for organizing the unique training exercise.  The event was a marvel in logistics and was not tossed together overnight. “It takes a tremendous amount of energy to bring this many people together,” says Brennan.

While the situations resembles a possible shooter scenario, it lacks the real danger law enforcement professionals face in these types of violent situations. But, it does provide some hint to the chaos and danger one might see. “Your adrenaline does get going,” says Smith. “This is as good as it gets.”

Anderson likes this simulation training because he hopes that when his officers are put in a real situation they will respond quickly and without hesitation. He likens it to building muscle memory.

 

Members of West Wrentham Citizens Watch posed for pictures with MetroLec SWAT. Photo by Hannah Geiger.

The Wrentham Police Department recruited Wrentham citizens to simulate mall activity. While the group provided a great help to the police in the training, it also opened the eyes to many of the participants on the real danger the police face in their jobs and how hard they work at their profession. “It was very impressive,” says Wrentham's Kathy Hepburn. “I feel much safer.”

 

Wrentham resident Mary Ann Farrar felt the exercise brought home how dangerous a situation like this might be if it ever happened. “It’s very frightening,” she said. “You think what if. I always respeced the police, but that respect has quadrupled.”

The experience was captured on video thanks to King Philip High School students Chad Narducci and Christina Allen, as well as their adviser Ryan Bennett. The three were allowed access to film up close right in the action. “This is quite an experience,” says Narducci. “The images are pretty amazing. I had no idea what I was getting into."

In addition to taking the shooter down, the police, SWAT, and members of Wrentham's Fire department worked on other aspects of an active shooter situation. There were rescue components to the training where two King Philip High School students were removed from the scene after simulating injuries from the shooter. The MetroLec SWAT rolled in on two armored vehicles and then went through the mall releasing shoppers that had fled into the stores for protection. At all times, hidden in the shadows were snipers positioned at different points on the mall's roof.

After a debriefing and a break for pizza and water, a hostage scenario was setup within one of the administrative offices at the mall. The shooter took several hostages and Wrentham Police worked on communicating with him and how to enter tight spaces like an office. The police would take time to critique their approach. The SWAT personnel also worked on moving into the space taking down the shooter.

As the evening ended, the members of the different units gathered together for a photo opportunity to commemorate the four hours of training.

Public Safety Training Exercise

On October 28, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. the Wrentham Police Department will be hosting an active shooter – critical incident response training at the Wrentham Premium Village Outlet Mall, One Premium Outlet Blvd, Wrentham, Mass.

The Wrentham Police and Fire Departments, working in collaboration with mall management and security will be joined by MetroLec SWAT (Metropolitan Law Enforcement Council Special Weapons & Response Team) in responding to and neutralizing an active shooter – critical incident scenario.

Additional resources from the Massachusetts State Police Foxboro Barracks and State Police Med Flight have been requested.

The public should be advised that there could potentially be some temporary traffic delays as emergency equipment is positioned. There will be a large number of public safety vehicles in the area of the Wrentham Premium Village Outlet Mall and several parking lots within the mall property. Emergency vehicles may be activating their lights and sirens sporadically throughout this training.

The Wrentham Premium Village Outlet Mall will open for normal shopping hours on the day of the exercise, from 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Hurricane Sandy: A Message from Police Chief James Anderson

The Town of Wrentham, including the Police Department, Office of Emergency Management, Fire Department and Department of Public Works have begun to prepare for the eventual arrival of Hurricane Sandy which is currently projected to hit the Massachusetts area sometime this coming Monday, October 29, 2012.

Meteorologists are calling this hurricane one of the most significant weather events to hit the east coast of the United States in decades. They are recommending that people begin taking action immediately to prepare for significant damage caused by high wind and flooding rain.

The Wrentham Police Department encourages residents to begin taking steps immediately to prepare for a significant weather event. Flooding has the potential to have aggravated effects if residents lose power for a length of time and/or have to leave their homes. The loss of power may prevent residents from operating pumps and other electrical items in their home.

Residents should ensure that they have the following items at a minimum:

1. Battery operated flashlights
2. Battery operated radio
3. Extra batteries
4. Fresh drinking water (water bottles)
5. Cell phones charged
6. A “Go Bag” prepared with necessary items (clean clothes, medicine, water, etc) in the
event you have to quickly leave your residence.
7. Vehicle filled with gasoline
8. If you have a generator or pump, make sure it is in working order.
9. Unless evacuated, please stay in your homes for safety reasons.
10. Additionally, residents should begin taking in outdoor furniture, umbrellas and any
other items that may be damaged by the storm.

In the event of an emergency during the storm, residents should call 9-1-1. For all other inquiries or to report property damage, please contact the Police Department at 508-384-2121 to speak with a police dispatcher.

Wrentham's Police Blog One of the Best

VideoSurveillance.com announced that the Wrentham Police Department blog was named one of the top blogs by a police department.

In a description about the blog, VideoSurveillance.com stated, "The Wrentham Police Department Blog provides current criminal activity notifications and public safety information that can be accessed through any number of social networking websites such as Twitter, Facebook and Nixle. In other words, it's a comprehensive tool that seamlessly connects the community to the agency's policing and public safety effort. Through social media channels, the WPDB is able to immediately notify its followers when there is breaking news or information. It has directly contributed to crime solving, locating missing persons, and community crime prevention efforts, and now serves as a model for surrounding public safety agencies who find it difficult to maintain and manage web pages."

To read the Wrentham Police blog visit http://wrenpd.blogspot.com/.