To the editor:
During my 60 years here in Marblehead, I have come to know of the dedication of our Police Department in comforting lost children, managing traffic situations and responding when our neighbors face emergencies. That lifelong sense of safety and reassurance was painfully absent on Sept. 12, 2025, when the Department of Homeland Security came to town and took three men into custody without any visible local police presence. The silence and absence of our familiar protectors left many of us shaken and unsettled.
After that event, I met with Police Chief Dennis King. I shared my deep disappointment that our police force was not present during this operation. Our community deserves the comfort and reassurance of seeing our local officers standing nearby, ready to safeguard people and help prevent any harmful or dangerous escalation.
I believe local police have the authority, the responsibility and the obligation to observe the actions of any forces operating in our community. Across the country, we have seen troubling reports and photographs of detainees being mistreated whether left exposed to extreme cold, threatened with assault weapons or ignored when medical care was urgently needed. There have been documented cases of people being arrested without judicial warrants, and of the wrong individuals being detained, injured or even murdered. These deeply troubling realities raise serious concerns about due process and humane treatment for both bystanders and those targeted.
Sen. Brendan Crighton and Rep. Jennifer Armini have taken a strong stand for protecting access to justice in our courts and affirming due process protections for everyone by supporting the Safe Communities Act.
Within our borders, we want to feel confident that our police force truly has our protection at heart and will stand visibly beside us to ensure accountability if outside agencies come to our town again.
Sincerely,
Lynn Nadeau
Surf Street
