Belmont Police Collecting Coats And Clothes For Cradles To Crayons Starting Friday

Photo: The Cradles to Crayons warehouse. 

The Belmont Police Department along with the non-profit Cradles to Crayons will be holding a Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service collection drive.

We will be collecting new or like new warm winter essentials for children up to age 12. Items most needed are:

  • Winter Coats: boys and girls size newborn to adult medium.
  • Winter Boots: boys and girls size child 0-13 and adult 1-10.
  • Winter clothing: boys and girls sizes newborn to child 18/20 or adult medium.

A collection bin will be in the Belmont Police Department lobby. Items can be dropped off starting on Friday, Jan. 11 at 4 p.m. through Monday, Jan. 21 at 1 p.m.

Items can also be dropped off at Belmont High School from Monday, Jan. 14, thru Friday, Jan. 17, 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and Monday, Jan. 21 at 9 a.m.

Cradles to Crayons provides children from birth through age 12 living in homeless or low-income with the essential items they need to thrive at home, at school, and at play.

If you have questions about the drive please call Lt. Kristin Daley at 617-993-2554.

 

Two New Belmont Police Officers Sworn In

Photo: (from left) Town Clerk Ellen Cushman, Belmont Police Officers Brian Conneely, Evan Nichols, Belmont Chief Richard McLaughlin.

New Belmont Police Officers Brian Conneely and Evan Nichols were sworn in by Belmont Town Clerk Ellen O’Brien Cushman at a ceremony held in the Board of Selectmen’s room at Town Hall on Friday Dec. 21.

On Thursday Dec. 20, Belmont Police Chief Richard McLaughlin along with command staff attended the graduation ceremony for the Conneely and Nichols graduated from the Randolph Regional Police Academy 8th R.O.C. on Dec. 20 after a 21-week intensive academy program hosted by the Randolph Police Academy.

The new officers are pictured with McLaughlin and Cushman.

 

Belmont Police Joins Restorative Justice Movement [VIDEO]

Photo: Restorative Justice project in Concord.

Your car has been vandalized. Someone broke into your house at night. Shoplifters attacked the business you own. You were assaulted by “a friend.”

You are a victim of a crime and you want justice.

In the past forty years, the expected action from law enforcement and the courts were to take the perpetrator, convict them with the harshest sentence and lock them up.

And while that might be satisfactory, it, for the most part, doesn’t restore a sense of safety to or provide a lasting resolution to the victim.

According to Erin Freeborn and Belmont Police’s Asst. Chief James MacIsaac, there is a better way. Rather than throwing away the keys, bring the victim and culprit together. “Hold the offender accountable so healing can begin and everything is put right,” said Freeborn, executive director of C4RJ, a non-profit community-police partnership that offers restorative justice to those affected by crime.

And Belmont PD announced at the Belmont Board of Selectmen’s meeting on Monday, Dec. 17, it has joined 24 other Massachusetts police departments (including Arlington, Cambridge, and Lexington) and the Middlesex and Suffolk country district of attorneys partnering with C4RJ.

The Concord-based organization in operation since 2000 is driven by a group of trained volunteers recognizes crimes is a violation of people and relationships, not just a violation of the law. The focus of the organization is to assist victims and offenders of a crime through a healing approach outside the court system.

C4RJ builds strong, respectful communities by responding to a crime in ways other than tough sentencing. C4RJ listens to victims, holds offenders accountable, and restores trust in communities.

Through C4RJ’s process, victims of a crime respond to an incident by directly addressing the person who committed the crime. In turn, offenders are given the chance to rectify their actions and avoid a potential criminal conviction on their record.

“Where once a fistfight after school was seen past part of growing up, now that could be considered a felony assault with real harsh consequences,” said Freeborn. “We want to reduce the number of people being incarcerated and [restorative justice programs] are one way to do that.”

Partner police departments recommend cases to C4RJ. If the victim and the offender agree to the process, the matter is given to C4RJ, which sets up a meeting between both parties, putting the decision making into the hands of those directly affected.

Together, under the guidance of the board of directors and law enforcement officials, the victim, the offender, and their loved ones and supporters, along with community members discuss the crime and find a way to move forward. The process is as follows:

  • Victims of crime address the person or people who have harmed them, to ask questions in a safe environment, and to share ideas on ways that the offender can repair the harm.
  • Offenders better understand the impact of their actions, are held accountable and encouraged to make amends to those they have harmed.
  • The community offers support for the process, addressing matters of public safety and strengthening connections with the police department.

At the end of the meeting, the offender pledges to change his or her actions, which are often accompanied by completing a number of service hours for an appropriate organization. In 60 to 90 days, all parties meet again to check in and reassess the situation.

This approach appears to work: the recidivism rate using the C4RJ approach is 16 percent as compared to 31 percent reincarceration rate (within three years) in Massachusetts, according to a 2018 National Reentry Resource Center study.

“By giving victims and offenders of a crime the opportunity to express themselves in a safe environment, we can have a dialogue that yields positive results for both sides,” said Freeborn.

C4RJ will be holding its next volunteer training on Feb. 8 (6 p.m. to 9 p.m.) and Feb. 9 (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.). The first step is a volunteer application found at https://bit.ly/2ya8z5K.

Driver Charged in Fatal Pedestrian/Vehicle Crash In Belmont

Photo: Sachi Thanawala.

Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Belmont Police Chief Richard McLaughlin announced today, Friday, Sept. 21, that Raymond O’Brien, 45, of Medford has been charged with unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in connection with an August 28, fatal collision in Belmont that took the life of Belmont resident Sachi Thanawala.

Based on the preliminary investigation it was determined that the defendant was not in possession of a valid driver’s license and subsequently not permitted to operate a motor vehicle. The defendant had previously been licensed to operate in Massachusetts; however, that license had expired in 2004.

This charge is an allegation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty, according to the DA’s office.

On Aug. 28, at approximately 8:25 a.m., Belmont Police responded to a report of a motor vehicle crash involving a pedestrian at the intersection of Lexington and Sycamore streets. Upon arrival, authorities located Thanawala, 39, of Sycamore Street, who had sustained serious injuries. Thanawala was transported to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center where she died on Aug. 30. O’Brien, who was operating the vehicle, a 2015 Ford Transit Van, remained on scene.

Through their investigation authorities learned that the decedent was crossing the street at the intersection when the defendant allegedly turned left striking her.

This is an ongoing investigation being conducted by the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, the Belmont Police Department and the Massachusetts State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section. The prosecutor assigned to this case is Assistant District Attorney Taylor Makson. 

Belmont Police Seek Witnesses to Fatal Pedestrian Crash 

Photo: Investigators at the scene of the accident Aug. 28.

The Belmont Police Department is asking the public for information about a fatal pedestrian crash at the intersection of Sycamore and Lexington streets in Belmont, according to a press release.

Officers responded to the intersection at approximately 8:25 a.m. on Tuesday Aug. 28. A white 2015 Ford van had struck and killed 39-year-old Sachi Thanawala of Sycamore Street.

We are asking for any persons who witnessed the crash to please come forward. Anyone with information should contact Sgt. Ben Mailhot of the Belmont Police Department at 617-993-2501 or 617-993-2538.

This incident is currently under investigation by the Belmont Police Department, with the assistance of the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office and the Massachusetts State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Unit.

Police Chief Gets A Raise, And His Retirement Date

Photo: Belmont Police Chief Richard McLaughlin on a tour of the current police headquarters.

Belmont’s long-standing Police Chief Richard McLaughlin received a pay raise and a contract extension which will allow him to end his career in his hometown. 

McLaughlin received a glowing review by Town Administrator Patrice Garvin who approved the pay raise which increases the chief’s total annual compensation package – made up of salary, holiday pay and a first responder stipend – to $185,567 retroactive to July 1, 2018. 

“In general, the Chief received the highest marks … and excedes expectations” in running the town’s police department, Garvin told the Board of Selectmen last week, who approved the pay increase unanimously. 

In addition to his review, McLaughlin request the selectmen extend his contract through Dec. 31, 2019 – it was scheduled to end at the end of June of next year – was also accepted, with the stipulation that his pay will remain flat through 2019. 

McLaughlin told the Belmontonian after the meeting the extension was sought so he could retire in his current position. 

“Yes, my last day will be the end of 2019,” said McLaughlin. 

A Belmont resident, McLaughlin began his career with the Arlington Police in 1980 and spent 27 years with the department reaching the rank of captain. He was appointed Belmont’s top cop in February 2007. This spring, McLaughlin helped in facilitating final design plans for a major renovation of the department’s 85-year-old headquarters at the corner of Concord Avenue and Pleasant Street, one of his long-term priorities as chief. 

Belmont Police’s Prescription Drug Drop Off at DPW Yard Sat. April 28

Photos: Prescription drugs.

The Belmont Police Department in conjunction with the Belmont Auxiliary Police and the DEA will be hosting a Prescription Drug Take-Back Initiative to prevent the abuse and theft of old, unused and expired prescription drugs at the DPW Yard, 37 C St., on Saturday April 28 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Old or unused prescription drugs (no liquids) may be dropped off for free with no questions asked. You won’t even have to get out of your car.

Prescription drugs are highly susceptible to misuse by family and friends. In addition they can be improperly disposed of and end up in our environment, posing a potential health hazard. Please take some time to check your medicine cabinet and visit the DPW next weekend.

For more information on the Rx Drug Take Back Initiative or a list of additional collection sites visit www.dea.gov . Residents can also contact Belmont Police Lt. Kristin Daley at kdaley@belmontpd.org. The police also has a permanent Rx drug collection kiosk located in the lobby of the police station that is accessible 24/7.

Upper Concord Avenue Closed Vacation Week, April 16 – 20

Photo: Can’t go here!

A major portion of one of the main roads to and from Lexington will be closed for most of the day this coming week.

Upper Concord Avenue from Pleasant to Mill streets will be shut down from Monday, April 16 to Friday, April 20 due to infrastructure construction related to the Belmont Day School. There will be a police detail at either end of the road to enforce the closure. 

The work schedule is:

  • Monday, April 16: 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
  • Tuesday to Friday, April 17-20: 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Through traffic from Lexington to Belmont will be detoured down Mill Street, onto Trapelo Road and onto South Pleasant Street where it will connect with Concord Avenue at the Belmont Police Station.

Those excluded from the ban will include Concord Avenue residents and members of the Belmont Hill Club. 

Big Street Closures/Delays Monday, April 2 in Belmont

Photo: Upper Concord Avenue between Winter and Marsh streets.

The Belmont Police Department has issued a pair of street advisories that will impact traffic in and through Belmont on Monday, April 2.

On Monday and Tuesday, FE French Construction will close the outbound (heading towards Lexington) upper Concord Avenue between Winter and Marsh streets starting at 7 a.m. The detour will impact westbound traffic on Concord.

Also on Monday, Grove Street road construction resumes.

Expect delays and detours on these important Belmont thoroughfares.

Belmont Police Collecting Clothes For Cradles to Crayon Thru Jan. 15

Photo: Logo for Cradles to Crayons.

The Belmont Police Department along with Brighton-based Cradles to Crayons will be holding a Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service Collection drive through Monday, Jan. 15 at 1 p.m.

A collection bin will be in the Belmont Police Department lobby at police headquarters at the corner of Pleasant Street and Concord Avenue across from Town Hall.

The police will be collecting new or like-new warm winter essentials for children up to 12 years old.

Items most needed are:

  • Winter Coats: boys and girls sizes newborn to adult medium
  • Winter Boots: boys and girls sizes child 0-13 and adult 1-10
  • Winter clothing: boys and girls sizes newborn to child 18/20 or adult medium

Cradles to Crayons provides children from birth through age 12 living in homeless or low-income situations with the essential items they need to thrive at home, at school and at play.

If you have questions about the drive please call Belmont Police Lt. Kristin Daley at 617-993-2554