Arrest of Armed Individual

Officer Peter Alexander

On November 10, 2006, at approximately 0219 hours, Officer Peter Alexander had just completed his shift and was in the rear parking lot of the police station, when he heard a call for assistance from a cruiser that was at the scene of a large fight in the street in the intersection of Baldwin and High Streets. Officer Alexander immediately responded to that location, and upon his arrival, observed a large unruly crowd in the street with one fight going on, and several more about to begin.

Shortly after Officer Alexander reported to Baldwin Street, a security guard from the El Caney Bar pointed out a person involved in the fight who was armed with a handgun. After Officer Alexander confronted the individual and identified himself as a police officer, the suspect began fleeing on foot towards Buffum Street, while reaching for what appeared to be a weapon at his waist area. After notifying Lynn Control that he was involved in a foot pursuit, Officer Alexander began chasing the suspect past Cesar’s Palace on Buffum Street, through a crowd that was exiting that establishment. The man’s hand remained on his gun throughout the entire chase, which ended behind Cesar’s Palace when Officer Alexander temporarily lost sight of him. The suspect then reappeared from the darkened area as the officer made his way around the corner of the building. Officer Alexander drew his service weapon and was able to take the individual into custody with the assistance of Officer P. Cotter and Officer E. Monahan (Car 14) who had also arrived on the scene.  Assistance was also provided by a uniformed security guard that was on duty at Cesar’s Palace. Shortly after the suspect was captured, Sergeant C. Kelly and Officer M. Surette located his loaded handgun near the fence and foundation of the building.  

Rescued Two Persons From A Burning Building

Sergeant Eugene Cusack
Officer Andrew Beaver
Officer Ronald Brown
Officer Stephen Emery
Officer Thomas Holland
Officer Thomas Morley
Officer Max Saravia
Officer Colin Toomey

On November 19, 2006, at approximately 1128 hours, Officer Andrew Beaver (Car 7), Officer Thomas Morley (Car 9), Officer Stephen Emery (Car 11), Officers Ronald Brown and Colin Toomey (Car 15), and Officers Thomas Holland and Max Saravia (Car 19), along with Sergeant Eugene Cusack, were dispatched to a South Street address on the report of a fire. Upon their arrival, the officers on the scene observed the building, which was reported to have been vacant for some time, to be fully engulfed in flames. The officers, under the direction of Sergeant Cusack, immediately set up traffic and crowd control, and due to the severity of the fire, a decision was made to evacuate the structure next door.

As the officers on the scene began their evacuation of the occupied dwelling next to the fire, information became available that there may have been homeless individuals staying in the basement of the vacant structure. The officers then observed an individual struggling to exit the front door window of the burning building, through the heavy fire and smoke. The officers immediately climbed the stairs to the front door, exposing themselves to the heavy and dangerous fire. Despite the fact that the entire front of the building was fully engulfed in flames, officers on the scene worked as a team to extricate the victim from the building, and then hand him to officers on the ground. Shortly thereafter, a second victim fell through the heavy fire onto the front porch of the building.  Both individuals were quickly pulled to safety by the officers and then treated by Lynn Fire Department EMS upon their arrival. 

All of the officers who responded to the scene of this serious fire utilized their skills and training, and disregarded their own personal safety to maintain order, evacuate the neighboring dwelling, and rescue the two individuals who were in the burning building.                   
 

Arrest of Two Stabbing Suspects

Detective Oren Wright

            On October 29, 2006, at approximately 1948 hours, a man was stabbed multiple times while at a liquor store located on Western Avenue. The victim sustained stab wounds to his eye, ear, arm, side, stomach, and an almost fatal wound to his throat. The individual was transported to Mass General Hospital where he was treated for life threatening injuries. This incident was captured on the store’s digital security camera, which showed the suspects who were involved in this violent attack. The video of the assault was made available to all Lynn Police personnel to view, but no one was able to recognize the suspects from past incidents.

On October 31, 2006, at approximately 1640 hours, Detective Oren Wright was on patrol in the area of Washington Street, when he immediately recognized the two suspects that he had just seen in the liquor store’s video. Detective Wright approached the two suspects, who were on Washington Street near Lloyd Street, and also called for back up. Several units quickly arrived on the scene to assist Detective Wright, including Detective Timothy Ferrari. The two men were then positive identified by Detective Wright and then placed under arrest for assault with intent to murder.

Arrest of Bank Robbery Suspect

Detective Michael Ferraro

            On October 21, 2006, at approximately 1500 hours, Detective Michael Ferraro, who was off-duty, and accompanied by his wife, was en route to a department store on Route I in Saugus, which was located in the same parking lot as Eastern Bank.  As they entered the parking lot, Detective Ferraro noticed a vehicle behind him which matched the description of a suspect vehicle, which he immediately recognized. Two days previously, on October 19^th, Detective Ferraro had accompanied fellow Drug Task Force member Trooper DesFosses to Peabody, where they met with Peabody Officer Mark Falco and viewed photos of an individual involved in a recent bank holdup. On Friday, October 20^th, Detective Ferraro, while on his way to work, heard a broadcast regarding a bank robbery at Eastern Bank in Saugus. Included was a description of the suspect’s vehicle as an older black SUV with a red top, similar in style to a Ford Bronco. Later that afternoon Detective Ferraro received and examined an email which included the suspect’s bank photos.

            Detective Ferraro quickly noted that the vehicle matched the description of the SUV involved in the Saugus bank robbery, and as it passed him, he observed that the operator appeared to be the same individual seen in the suspect photos from the Peabody and Saugus holdups. He noticed that the SUV was parked at the rear of the Eastern Bank, some distance away, despite the fact that there were much closer parking spaces available. When the operator exited the SUV, Detective Ferraro became positive that this individual was the bank robbery suspect. The male party walked around to the front of the bank entrance, even though there was a back entrance adjacent to where he has parked the SUV. Detective Ferraro, who was unarmed, instructed his wife to stay behind and then exited his vehicle and began to follow the suspect. He observed that the subject pulled his baseball cap’s visor down low in the front before entering the bank’s front door, and that he kept his right hand in his right front jacket pocket. Detective Ferraro believed that the suspect was about to rob this bank again. He walked to the front door of the bank and entered, scanned the interior, but was unable to see the male subject inside. He did notice that there was a security guard present, and believed that this may have frightened the suspect, who appeared to have exited through the rear entrance. Detective Ferraro immediately headed that way, and observed the suspect walking in the parking lot toward the SUV.

    For several minutes, Detective Ferraro had been trying to reach Saugus Police Detective Jim Donovan, via Nextel, without success. When the suspect re-entered the SUV and started out of the parking lot towards the Fellsway, Detective Ferraro and his wife followed in their vehicle. Because there was heavy traffic in the area, Mrs. Ferraro kept the SUV in sight while Detective Ferraro maneuvered through the traffic. At that time, he was finally able to reach Detective Donovan and apprise him of the situation and several Saugus marked units, as well as Detective Dana Bates quickly responded.  Detective Ferraro continued to supply the suspect vehicle’s direction of travel until it was finally stopped by Saugus police officers, at gunpoint, at the Square One Mall. The male operator was identified and taken into custody, along with his female passenger. In his right front jacket pocket, the officers found a hand written holdup note. During the subsequent interrogation by Saugus officers, the suspect confessed to the earlier Peabody and Saugus bank robberies on the 19^th and 20^th and that it had been his intention to rob the Saugus bank again, but he had been scared off by the security guard.

Reduced level of gang-related crime

Lieutenant Peter Holey
Officer Robert Ferrari            

            In spite of the Lynn Police Department’s strong efforts to curb gang activity through a number of different programs, the summer of 2005 saw a dramatic rise in gang-related violence in our city.  Because of this growing trend, several avenues were explored to aggressively combat this problem for the summer of 2006. In the spring of 2006, Sergeant Peter Holey (promoted to Lieutenant, 10/3/06), who was then assigned as the Officer in Charge of the Gang Unit, and School Resource Officer Robert Ferrari submitted a proposal that would target the more violent teens of the city, and establish a Youth Drop-In Center at Lynn Vocational and Technical High School.

            On Friday, July 7, 2006, the Youth Drop-In Center opened its doors, utilizing funds from the Senator Charles E. Shannon, Jr. Community Safety Initiative Grant.  The center was manned by the LPD Gang Unit, Lynn Juvenile Probation, Essex County Sheriff’s Department personnel, DYS representatives, Straight Ahead Ministries, along with a host of other agencies who all worked cooperatively and with one goal in mind; a safer city. A second program, Summer Jobs Initiative, also became a companion activity that further addressed the very issues that disrupted the quality of life in the city, particularly random violence by youths.

            Since the time that the Youth Drop-In Center has opened its doors, the level of criminal behavior, most specifically the number of armed assaults by youths on other youths, has shown a significant decrease from that of the summer of 2005, and continues to remain below what it was from last year. Despite the almost 500 arrests by the Lynn Police Gang Unit in the first nine months of 2006, the Teen Drop-In Center has provided a better alternative for those youths who may have ended up involved in non-productive and often times criminal activity.  

Missing Person / Homicide

Lieutenant Glen Deveau
Detective Mark Lee           

            On May 5, 2006, the Lynn Police Department received a call from a woman in England, who was concerned about the well-being of her brother, and wanted to report him as missing. The woman stated that her brother had been in Lynn on April 20, 2006 visiting a Lynn man he had met on the Internet. A missing person report was taken out on the 32-year old male, who lived in London, England, and the case was assigned to Lieutenant Glen Deveau and Detective Mark Lee.

            Over the next nine weeks, Lieutenant Deveau and Detective Lee traveled throughout New England, speaking with dozens of persons, in search of some information that would lead them to where the missing individual was staying. In most cases, the people interviewed were reluctant to provide information to law enforcement officials.

            As the investigation progressed, it became more involved, and was also the focus of not only the local media, but the British tabloids as well. As more time passed, it began to appear that the missing individual was deceased.  Lieutenant Deveau and Detective Lee continued to visit and interview the person who had invited the missing man to his home, and who was believed to be the last person to have been with him before he disappeared.

            On June 23, 2006, approximately nine weeks after the British individual’s sister contacted the LPD to report him as being missing, the Claremont, New Hampshire Police Department reported that they had discovered the body of a Lynn man behind a store in their town. The body was identified as the same Lynn man who had invited the missing man from England to visit him. A five-page letter detailing the events that took place during the week of the missing individual’s visit was found with the body.  Included in the letter was an admission that the missing man was deceased, and that his body had been placed in the trunk of a car, driven to Rhode Island, and buried in a shallow grave in a remote wooded section of a wildlife preserve.

Assisted a mother with the delivery of her child

Officer Gregory Brotherton
Officer Colin Toomey

            On June 18, 2006, at 0240 hours, Lynn Control received a 911 call from a male party who stated that his wife was about to have a baby, and that she needed an ambulance immediately. Officer Gregory Brotherton and Officer Colin Toomey were dispatched to the Leighton Terrace address and were the first to reach the scene.  

            Upon their arrival, the officers entered the apartment and observed a trail of blood on the floor leading to the kitchen. They found the expectant female on her hands and knees, on the kitchen floor. When Officer Brotherton and Officer Toomey went to assist the woman, they noticed that the baby’s head was crowning. They gave the dispatcher an update on the mother’s condition, and then helped the woman to a position where she felt more comfortable.  At that time, the baby’s head began to emerge. Officer Toomey quickly supported the baby’s head, and the child was then delivered. Officer Brotherton immediately took a bulb syringe from the first aid bag and began to suction the nose and mouth of the male infant, who was blue in color and initially not breathing. After several seconds, the baby began to breathe on his own and to cry, and the officers then wrapped him in a towel. Lynn Fire Department and Action Ambulance personnel arrived on the scene a few minutes later, and took over the care of the mother and child. The mother and the baby boy were then transported to Salem Hospital without further incident. In a follow-up call to the family from Sergeant Haberek several weeks later, it was reported that both mother and child were healthy and happy.

Capture of an Armed Shooting Suspect

Officer Shawn Hogan
Officer Geovanni Ruano           

            On April 25, 2006, Dispatch received a call reporting gunshots in the area of an Essex Street address. Several Division Units responded to the area, as well as Officer Shawn Hogan and Geovanni Ruano, who were assigned to the Robbery Task Force. As Officer Hogan and Officer Ruano were approaching the scene, they observed two individuals running from the area. The officers immediately stopped one of them, and identified him. The male party stated that he was the brother of the victim and a witness to the shooting.  He also informed the officers that the other male he was chasing was the person who had shot his brother. Officer Hogan and Officer Ruano quickly began a foot pursuit of the suspect down Essex Street onto Essex Circle. As the officers approached one of the dwellings on Essex Circle, they saw the suspect coming from the rear of the building. They then observed that he began to reach for something in his pants pocket. Officer Hogan and Officer Ruano drew their service weapons and ordered the suspect to stop his movements and place his hands over his head. After a few seconds, he complied with the officers’ orders. The suspect was then placed into a prone position and after a pat frisk was conducted, a loaded .25 caliber handgun was discovered inside the pants pocket where he had been reaching. The male suspect was then returned to the scene where he was positively identified as the shooter by the victim and his brother, who had earlier stated to the officers that he has witnessed the shooting.

Rescued youth that fell through thin ice

Officer Stephen Emery
Officer Michael O’Connell
Officer Peter Panacopoulos
Officer Ralph Sirois 

            On March 10, 2006, Officer Stephen Emery, Officer Michael O’Connell, Officer Peter Panacopoulos, and Officer Ralph Sirois were in the woods off Verona Street on an unrelated matter, when they heard loud screams for help from a group of children at nearby Spring Pond. All of the officers ran to the area of the screams and observed that a young boy had fallen through the thin ice into the frigid water.  The officers immediately began to form a Human Life Line in an effort to pull the child from the water. Still unable to reach the child, Officer O’Connell uprooted a sapling from the ground, and extended it to the boy who was able to grab onto it. The child was then pulled to safety by the officers. Officer Emery quickly removed his duty shirt and wrapped it around the boy in an effort to prevent hypothermia, and the child was also placed inside a cruiser with the heat turned up until an ambulance arrived to provide additional treatment. The responding officers also contacted the child’s parents, who arrived on the scene shortly after receiving the call.

Rescued two victims from burning building

Officer Michael McHale

            On March 2, 2006 at approximately 0430 Hours, Lynn Control received numerous telephone calls reporting a house fire at a Euclid Avenue location. Officer William Rogers (Car 12) was the first to arrive on the scene, and assisted a neighbor who had already retrieved a ladder and placed it up to a second floor window of the burning dwelling. The neighbor had already climbed the ladder and carried down a 13-year-old male resident. Two other adult residents, a male and a female, still remained in the building.

            Officer James McIntyre and Officer J.F. White (Car 16), Officer Michael McHale (Car 9), Officer John McKenna (Car 8), Officer Michael Kenny (Car 10), Officer John Manning and Officer Ryan Dulong (Car 14), and Sergeant Lucas Dean all responded to the scene as well. By the time the officers arrived, the rear of the home was fully engulfed in flames and thick smoke was pouring from an open second floor window where the ladder had been placed.

            Officer McHale climbed up the ladder to help the two individuals who were still inside the burning dwelling, exit and climb down to safety, while Officer Rogers and Officer McIntyre assisted from below. The female was extremely frightened and refused to climb down the ladder, and the male would not leave the building without her. Due to the rapidly deteriorating conditions of the house, Officer McHale had to reach into the residence and pull the woman out from the window. He held onto her so she would not fall, positioned her on the ladder, and brought her down to the officers below. Officer McHale then went up the ladder again and rescued the man who was still inside.

            While Officer McHale rescued the victims with the help of Officer Rogers and Officer McIntyre, Officer Kenny and Officer White located another ladder in the rear yard and placed it up against an opposite second floor window to further assist in the evacuation of the residence. Officer Dulong, Officer Manning, and Officer McKenna evacuated the adjacent homes due to the intense fire and their close proximity to the burning building. The Lynn Fire Department arrived shortly after the rescue of the victims and the evacuation of the adjacent locations, and took control of the fire scene.

Robbery Suspect Captured

Detective Raymond Guillermo
Detective Ross Panacopoulos

            On February 27, 2006 at approximately 2054 Hours, S.I.U. Detectives Raymond Guillermo and Ross Panacopoulos were randomly patrolling the downtown area in an unmarked cruiser, when they observed a male party standing outside in front of an Essex Street convenience store. He was pacing about, smoking a cigarette, and appeared nervous.

            Because the individual’s behavior seemed suspicious, Detective Guillermo and Detective Panacopoulos circled the block in an attempt to observe his actions. The subject was no longer in sight, but the officers parked their vehicle and waited to see if he would return to the area. While they were waiting, the door of the convenience store was suddenly flung open, and the male suspect that they had previously observed came running outside, tucking his hand into his coat. A female was seen right behind him, holding a phone and yelling. The detectives immediately recognized that a robbery had just taken place, and began to pursue the fleeing individual. They did not yet know if the suspect had a weapon or if there were any accomplices who were waiting outside the store. After a brief chase, Detective Guillermo and Detective Panacopoulos captured the suspect, who was taken into custody without further incident, and later identified as having a Saugus address. The money that has been stolen from the convenience store was recovered from his person, as well as a hypodermic needle and a syringe. It was also learned that this individual was a heroin addict who told the detectives that he was doing at least a gram of heroin a day.

Suicide Prevented

Sergeant Christopher Kelly
Officer John Harkness
Officer William Rogers

            On February 19, 2006 at 0449 Hours, Officer John Harkness and Officer William Rogers (Car 16) and Sergeant Christopher Kelly were dispatched to a Lynnfield Street home, after Lynn Control received a report of 911 hang-up call to the Massachusetts State Police, during which a female voice was heard crying in the background.  The State Police identified the owner of cell phone from which the call was made as the owner of the Lynnfield Street residence.

            Upon arrival, the officers observed a female crying inside the house, while holding a telephone. She was later identified as the girlfriend of the homeowner. She informed the responding officers that her boyfriend was upstairs, he had a gun and he was threatening to kill himself. The officers proceeded up one flight of stairs to the living room and Officer Harkness then turned the corner to another set of stairs, where he observed the distraught individual holding a handgun that was pointed toward the ceiling. The male party stated that he was not coming downstairs and that he did not want to hurt anyone. Officer Harkness began speaking to him and asked him to put down his weapon. After several minutes, the distraught male put the gun down on the sink in the upstairs bathroom. Sergeant Kelly also began to speak to him in an attempt to convince him to allow the officers to go upstairs. After approximately ten minutes of the officers speaking with the suicidal individual, he finally allowed them to come upstairs. The weapon was then seized by Officer Harkness. The gun was examined by Officer Harkness and found to be fully loaded, with a round in the chamber. After further conversation with the officers, the male party was then transported to the hospital for evaluation. During this incident, additional units, including Special Weapons officers also arrived on the scene, although it was not necessary for Special Weapons to be deployed.

Apprehension of Armed Bank Robbery Suspect

Officer Emmanuel Felix

            On February 2, 2006, at 1537 hours, numerous officers responded to the area of Eastern Bank on Boston Street, following the report of a bank robbery. The suspect had entered the bank and passed a note to one of the tellers, threatening to shoot her if she did not give him the money. Officer Emmanuel Felix, who was off-duty at the time, was in the Eastern Bank Drive-thru line at the time of the robbery. Officer Felix observed a male party running from the bank, and immediately radioed to Lynn Control that the bank robbery suspect was running up Granite Street, up the hill towards Western Avenue.

            Officer Michael DiMeglio observed the suspect several minutes later in the area of Granite and Bickerton Streets, and engaged in a foot pursuit towards Locust Street. Officer DiMegilio pursued the individual to the rear of a Locust Street building, where Officer Felix eventually located him hiding behind a trash dumpster. With the assistance of Officer DiMeglio, as well as Officer Anne Magner, Officer Michael O’Connell and Officer Ralph Sirois, who had also arrived on the scene, Officer Felix then arrested the fleeing suspect at gunpoint.

            The male suspect was found to be armed with a knife, and was positively identified by witnesses on scene as the person who had robbed the Eastern Bank. He was also believed to be a suspect in two other recent area bank robberies.

Arrest of Armed Shooting Suspect

Officer Gary Hagerty  

            On January 26, 2006, at 1448 hours, Lynn Control broadcast information regarding numerous reports they had received of multiple shots fired in the area of the Lynn YMCA. An investigation revealed that an ongoing gang battle, related to a stabbing that had occurred on the previous day, had just taken place.

            The first responding LPD Unit turned onto Alley Street from Shepard Street. As the cruiser approached Blossom Street, two males were observed running away from the area where the shooting was reported. Another male party, upon seeing the cruiser, ran south on Alley Street, while another individual was observed running into the L.V.T.I. parking lot.  Responding officers stopped the two males running from the scene on Blossom Street, while Officer Gary Hagerty, in response to broadcast information, went to Shepard Street near L.V.T.I. At that location, he encountered a known gang member walking towards Alley Street. The male party had his hands in his pockets, and fit the broadcast description. Upon seeing Officer Hagerty’s marked cruiser, the suspect turned rapidly and began to walk away towards the school, where dismissal was in progress. Officer Hagerty then ordered the male suspect to stop and remove his hands from his pockets. After his initial reluctance to comply with the officer’s verbal commands, the suspect was placed on the ground and taken into custody without further incident by Officer Hagerty, along with Officer Paul Galatis and Officer David Hines, who had subsequently arrived at the scene. This known gang member was found to be in possession of a .22 caliber revolver, loaded with six shell casings.  It was also observed that the firearm had an obliterated serial number.

The two male subjects that were seen on Blossom Street were also identified as members of the same gang, and were taken into custody by officers at the scene, including Officer Peter Alexander, who had responded from a nearby detail. Two members of the opposing gang were taken into custody on Pleasant Street by Officer Andrew Beaver and Officer Thomas Morley. The shooting victim was subsequently located at the Shaw’s Supermarket on State Street.

Arrest of Armed Shooting Suspect

Lieutenant Daniel Fee
Sergeant Donald Kasle
Sergeant Michael Vail
Detective Daniel Morales
Officer Stephen Emery
Officer Domingo Polonia           

            On January 24, 2006, at 1630 hours, numerous LPD officers responded to the area of Central Avenue, following a report of a shooting on Sutton Street. Upon their arrival, officers observed a group of people gathered in that area. Two of the individuals in the group immediately started to walk away, crossed over Essex Street, and then walked through the City Hall parking lot toward Johnson Street. 

            Sergeant Vail, along with Lieutenant Fee and Detective Ferraro attempted to stop these individuals, who ignored the officers’ verbal commands. They observed one of the suspects drop a knife to the ground and the other one place his hand in his waist area, as if he were reaching for a weapon.  The party with his hand in his waist started to run down Johnson Street, and while Lieutenant Fee, Detective Ferraro and Detective Morales began a foot pursuit of this fleeing individual; Sergeant Vail controlled the other suspect. Sergeant Kasle and Officer Emery attempted to stop the suspect in their cruiser, as he ran down Johnson Street onto Lloyd Street.  Several officers at the scene then ordered the suspect to stop and show his hands. He continued to ignore the commands of the officers, continuing to keep one hand in his waistband in a threatening manner, as if he were about to pull out a weapon. With Detective Morales still in foot pursuit, Sergeant Kasle attempted to cut the suspect off, as he ran up Whittier Street. The suspect then took cover on Whittier Street, patting his waist and stating to Detective Morales that he had a gun, and telling him to shoot him. The suspect then took cover behind a telephone pole, at which time, Sergeant Kasle, Detective Morales and Officer Polonia ordered him, at gunpoint, to show his hands and to get on the ground. The suspect continued to refuse these orders, and was approached at different angles by Sergeant Kasle, Detective Morales and Officer Polonia. The suspect then finally began to comply with the officers’ commands, and started to show his hands, at which time Officer Emery approached him from behind and tackled him to the ground. During the officer’s attempt to restrain this individual, a gun fell to the ground, landing at the suspect’s feet. He was then taken into custody without further incident.

Suicide Prevented

Officer Paul Cotter
Officer John Harkness
Officer James McIntyre

            On January 23, 2006, at 0107 hours, Lynn Control received a call that a distraught woman had left her home and was heading toward Red Rock on Lynn Shore Drive, to end her life. This individual, who was already known by Lynn Police, had left her home on foot, and had attempted to jump into the ocean before. As several patrol cars converged on the area from the victim’s house to Red Rock, Officer James McIntyre (Car 12) transmitted that he had located the woman on Red Rock. Car 8 (Officer John Harkness) and Car 16 (Officer Alvin Wolfe and Officer Joshua Hilton) were dispatched, and Car 18 (Officer Paul Cotter), along with several other units, also responded.

            Officer McIntyre advised Lynn Control that the woman was on the edge of the rocks partially submerged in water, and was threatening to jump. Sergeant Timothy Hallisey arrived on the scene as Officer McIntyre was talking to the suicidal individual, who was threatening to jump if any officers approached her. At this time, Lynn Control was told to notify Lynn Fire to respond with the rescue boat and an ambulance. Officer McIntyre continued to try to convince the woman not to jump. She was becoming increasingly agitated and started throwing her ID and other personal effects into the water. She then attempted to jump into the water and progressed several feet but was pushed back onto the rocks by the waves.  The waves and the slippery rock surface were dangerous for both the suicidal woman and the officers. The woman was lying flat on her back on the rocks with her legs in the water and the waves hitting her face. As Officer McIntyre continued to speak to the distraught woman, Officer Paul Cotter and Officer John Harkness made their way out to her, entered the water, and were able to grab her arms and stop her from going further. The woman was then pulled to safety and transported to the hospital for treatment.

Suicide Prevented

Captain Joseph Rowe 

            On January 13, 2006, Division CO Lieutenant V. Coleman notified Sergeant C. Kelly of a suicidal male believed to be in the Market Square area. The information relayed via the CO’s office stated that the individual was threatening to light himself on fire at exactly 1320 hours at the Market Square Dunkin Donuts if his girlfriend did not arrive on a bus from Boston at that time.  Sergeant Kelly canvassed the area and Division cars were made aware of the situation. At approximately 1317 hours, Lynn Control received a telephone call that a man was in the middle of the intersection of Liberty and Washington Streets pouring gasoline on himself. When Sergeant Kelly arrived at that location, he observed a man standing in a large puddle of gasoline. He was holding a lighter and was completely saturated in gasoline, standing next to a red plastic gasoline container.

            Captain Leonard Desmarais and Lieutenant Glen Deveau were already on the scene speaking to the suicidal individual. Captain Desmarais quickly advised Lynn Control of the situation and coordinated the area to be shut down. A large crowd was gathering in the area of the shelter, and had to be kept away to prevent further escalation. Motor vehicle traffic also had to be diverted from the area. Captain Desmarais and Lieutenant Deveau were trying to keep the individual calm and prevent him from using the lighter he was holding, as they continued to speak to him and keep the situation isolated. The man appeared very upset, and threatened to light himself on fire if anyone came near him. He was assured repeatedly that no one would approach him any further.

            At this time, several more units arrived to assist. Officer Geovanni Ruano was working a paid detail on Market Street and also arrived on the scene. He had previously dealt with the suicidal individual, who recognized the officer and began to converse with him. Officer Michael DiMeglio was also on the scene assisting. Several officers helped with crowd control and traffic posts. Lynn Fire was also called and was standing by with fire extinguishers and hoses as a precautionary measure. An ambulance was called in case of any injuries.

            The officers continued to try to end the situation peacefully, but the man refused to step away from the gasoline or put down the lighter. They continued to keep the individual calm, and assured him that they would not step any closer. Eventually, the suicidal man asked to speak to Captain Joseph Rowe, who he knew from prior incidents. Captain Rowe arrived on the scene and quickly established a rapport with the man. He kept him calm while he attempted to get him to end the standoff. Captain Rowe was then able to convince the troubled man to step out of the puddle of gasoline and give the lighter to him. He then escorted the individual to the Lynn Police Station where he was able to wash off the gasoline, which was beginning to irritate his skin. He was then booked without further incident for an outstanding warrant and for disorderly conduct and was subsequently transported via ambulance to Salem Hospital for a mental health evaluation.

Assisted in the birth of a child

Officer Robert Avery
Officer Todd Burton

            On January 1, 2006, at 0749 hours, Officer Robert Avery and Officer Todd Burton (Car 17) were dispatched to the Lynnway Shell Station for a report of a woman in labor. Upon their arrival, the officers observed a woman in obvious labor lying in the backseat of her motor vehicle. Her husband immediately informed the officers that her water had just broken. Officer Avery began to assist the woman, and without hesitation, utilized his training and experience to help deliver her child. He observed that the baby’s head was already crowning and delivery was imminent. The officers remained calm and professional as they gave verbal instructions to the woman. Officer Avery was able to carefully guide the baby’s head and shoulders through the birth canal. He suctioned the baby’s nose and mouth to ensure proper breathing. Officer Burton was able to quickly find a warm blanket in which to wrap the baby following the delivery. Action Ambulance then arrived on the scene and was able to assist Officer Avery with the cutting of the umbilical cord. The mother and the baby were then transported to Salem Hospital for further treatment, and it was later reported that both were in excellent condition.

            During this extremely chaotic incident, Officer Avery and Officer Burton continued to calm the situation by maintaining the highest level of professionalism. Officer Avery utilized his skills and training and put the safety of the baby and the mother above all else. Officer Burton was able to assist Officer Avery, and also kept family members from panicking during these tense moments. His quick action in securing a warm blanket for the baby during the very cold outside temperatures was vital to the newborn’s health.  The dedication to duty exhibited by Officer Avery and Officer Burton reflect positively upon themselves and upon our Department.

Arrest of Shooting Suspect

Detective Paul Holey

            On December 28, 2005, at 1503 hours, Detective Paul Holey was working for the Special Investigations Unit in an unmarked cruiser, at the intersection of Henry Avenue and Lawton Avenue, when he observed a male individual crossing Lawton Avenue. He then heard what he believed to be a gunshot coming from the area. Detective Holey noticed the male party tucking his right hand into his waistband. He also observed two other males chasing the individual from this location. Detective Holey immediately radioed to Lynn Control for assistance, and then followed the male suspect. He chased the fleeing individual to a Beacon Hill Avenue residence and then engaged in a foot pursuit of the suspect, as the male party ran to the backyard of that location. Detective Holey identified himself and directed the individual to stop. The suspect continued to flee and subsequently jumped over a wall to the adjacent yard of a Hamilton Avenue residence. Detective Holey continued to update Lynn Control throughout the foot chase.

            At this time, several Lynn Units arrived on scene to provide assistance. Because of the accurate description of landmarks given by Detective Holey, the units were able to establish a perimeter around the area. Sergeant Christopher Kelly (S-3), Officer Sean Bagley and Officer Gregory Brotherton (Car 14), and Officer Michael Eddows and Officer Gregory LeBlanc (Unit 61) observed the male party running from Grover Street to Lawton Avenue, and were able to place him into custody.  The suspect was identified as a known member of the Crip Gang out of Lawrence.  He was then transported back to the scene where he was positively identified by a witness on the scene. The victim, who received a minor foot injury, was known to the Gang Unit as a member of the East Coast Blood Gang.

            Shortly after, Officer Paul Galatis located a Ruger .22 caliber revolver in a barrel on the sidewalk in front of the Hamilton Street residence, which was the same location that Detective Holey had originally observed the suspect. The weapon was then placed into evidence. Gang Unit members Sergeant Peter Holey, Detective Robert Hogan and Detective Daniel Morales were also on the scene assisting in the investigation, as well as many officers of the Third Division.

            While on patrol during his regular tour of duty, Detective Holey exhibited the highest level of professionalism by recognizing, and then pursuing a suspect after hearing a possible gun shot in the area. He disregarded his own personal safety by following a potentially armed and violent individual. His accuracy in describing his location to Lynn Control allowed assisting units to work cooperatively to seize an illegal handgun from the streets and successfully arrest a known gang member.

Apprehension of  Armed Shooting Suspect

Detective Oren Wright

( Commendation awarded on February 6, 2006 )

            On November 24, 2005, at 2059 hours, Detective Oren Wright, while on routine patrol in an unmarked unit, heard what he believed to be gunshots in the area of Brimblecom and Baker Streets. Detective Wright immediately radioed Lynn Control for additional units to assist him. He exited his car and observed an individual running from the area of Baker Street where he had heard the shots fired. He then observed the person discharge two rounds from a handgun, in the direction of the Lynn Commons. The suspect quickly entered a black Jeep Cherokee, which was already occupied by a driver. The vehicle began to pull away from the curb, and Detective Wright, with his service weapon drawn and badge clearly displayed on his chest, ordered the vehicle to stop. The operator complied, and the two male occupants, both subsequently identified as gang members, were placed into custody for assault with the intent to murder, and various other offenses. The gun was then found resting on the front seat of the vehicle. The ensuing investigation revealed that during this incident, one person was stabbed, and there was a second suspect who had fired shots. He was also identified, and warrants were obtained for his arrest.

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