Public safety – Marblehead Current

Marblehead fire chief cautions about generators

26Nov

By Ed BellNo Comments

Marblehead fire chief cautions about generators

Fire Chief Jason Gilliland had some words of caution for the Marblehead Harbor Rotarians last week about the use of home generators. “We are facing the cold winter months,” he said, “and with current conditions there could be a shortage of electricity.” He predicted that could lead to more residents buying their own generators. “It’s one thing to buy a generator from a reputable company, have it installed and inspected,” he said. “It’s another to go to a big box store, bring home a generator and install it yourself.” Gilliland stressed that such installations should be inspected by the town for the safety of the homeowner and family. He warned that homeowners should never place a portable generator in or near the home citing the danger of carbon monoxide poisoning. G...

Police log, Oct. 27-Nov. 8: Poop smeared on truck door handle, service dog’s leash stuck in elevator door

19Nov

By Kris OlsonNo Comments

Local News, Public safety

Police log, Oct. 27-Nov. 8: Poop smeared on truck door handle, service dog’s leash stuck in elevator door

Excerpts from the Marblehead police log of Thursday, Oct. 27 through Nov. 8, 2022. Consistent with state law, Marblehead Police have adopted a policy of not providing to media outlets reports related to incidents related to domestic violence, juveniles and matters that remain under investigation. Thursday, Oct. 27 7:51 a.m. Tree branch reported down on Prospect Street. 7:51 a.m. Lights on flash reported on Pleasant and Smith streets. 7:54 a.m. Officer investigated report of past assault and battery on Broughton Road. Officer found the reporting party crying and shaking because a work crew hired by the Marblehead Housing Authority to do asbestos abatement showed up to her residence unannounced shortly after 7 a.m. She claimed a member of the work crew put his hands on her. Woma...

9-1-1 dispatcher will honor veterans with holiday wreaths

11Nov

By Leigh BlanderNo Comments

Local News, Nonprofit corner, Public safety, Top Stories

9-1-1 dispatcher will honor veterans with holiday wreaths

Longtime Marblehead 9-1-1 dispatcher Teresa Collins is leading a campaign to place holiday wreaths on the graves of nearly 2,000 veterans at Waterside Cemetery. Collins is working with the nonprofit Wreaths Across America. So far, people have sponsored 200 wreaths. Each wreath costs $15. "The theme of this year's mission is to find a way to serve," Collins told the Marblehead Current. "What more can you ask of Americans than to find a way to serve their town or city or country... for people to step up, see an opportunity and a need. This is a way I can continue to serve my community." Collins has been a 9-1-1 dispatcher in town for 25 years. "For me, it's super important to find positive things in the community, to balance it out," she said referring to the stresses of her...

Marblehead Police ask for public’s help in animal cruelty investigation

9Nov

By Leigh BlanderNo Comments

Local News, Public safety, Top Stories

Marblehead Police ask for public’s help in animal cruelty investigation

Marblehead Police have launched an animal cruelty investigation after a small dog was rescued near Maverick Street on Monday morning, Nov. 7. And they're asking for the public's help. Animal Control Officer Betsy Cruger with the rescued dog Two women were able to grab the pup after he was nearly hit by a car and ran off down the bike path. He was taken to a local vet. “Thanks to the work of Dr. Jeff Rockwell and his caring staff at Atlantic Veterinary Hospital of Marblehead, this little guy is receiving a variety of care with more in store in the days/weeks to come,” Marblehead Police wrote on Facebook. The dog, believed to be a 10-year-old Yorkie, was found around 7:30 a.m. without a collar or microchip. He was wearing a black-and-white harness with a dog-bones-and-paw-prin...

Fire Chief Jason Gilliland: Marblehead’s new fire truck expected before Thanksgiving Day

3Nov

By William J. DowdNo Comments

Local News, Municipal Matters, Public safety, Top Stories

Fire Chief Jason Gilliland: Marblehead’s new fire truck expected before Thanksgiving Day

Marblehead firefighters will soon welcome a new addition to their firefighting fleet: A Pierce pumper tuck. Fire Chief Jason Gilliland told Marblehead News the apparatus should be in Marblehead before Thanksgiving Day. The chief, in fact, flew to the Pierce factory in Appleton, Wisconsin to inspect the fire truck. "It's a good practice, making sure everything checks out and is in order," Gilliland said, adding except for a few odds and ends that the truck passed muster. Marblehead voters OK'd up to a $750,000 debt-exclusion override under Article 32 on the 2021 Marblehead Town Meeting warrant to purchase a fire truck. "The vote was reaffirmed in June of 2021, when voters overwhelmingly [passed]...a debt-exclusion override to borrow $620,000 for the new pumper truck and othe...

Marblehead TA Thatcher Kezer: Redd’s Pond in queue to get engineer study

31Oct

By William J. DowdNo Comments

Local News, Municipal Matters, Public safety, Top Stories

Marblehead TA Thatcher Kezer: Redd’s Pond in queue to get engineer study

Marblehead residents have not minced their words when they’ve expressed dissatisfaction with the state of Redd’s Pond’s infrastructure. For several years, the town has shoveled asphalt and cement into holes and cracks along the public pond’s path for years. Biff Martin, the Marblehead Model Yacht Club commodore, recently told the Marblehead Select Board the temporary patching lasts for so long before the holes reopen, creating a public safety hazard. “Last summer, one of [our model yacht club] members – 82 years old – twisted and fell on his face directly on the hot-top,” Martin said, “Now he is afraid of walking there.” Redd’s Pond. COURTESY PHOTO / ELIZABETH B. THOMSEN After years of resident advocacy, the town is taking the first steps toward a permanent solution to addre...

Marblehead police log, Oct. 21-26, 2022: Teen’s 1 a.m. bike ride brought to end; hefty stone planters purloined

28Oct

By Marblehead News staffNo Comments

Local News, Public safety

Marblehead police log, Oct. 21-26, 2022: Teen’s 1 a.m. bike ride brought to end; hefty stone planters purloined

Friday, Oct. 21 8:50 a.m. Wire reported down on Seaview Avenue. 12:06 p.m. Assisted with no-trespass issue on Washington Street. 2:39 p.m. Vehicles that had mirrors slap reported on Atlantic Avenue and Commercial Street. 5:48 p.m. Investigated report of past vehicle crash on Beacon Street. 8:25 p.m. Investigated report of suspicious package on Pleasant Street. 9:20 p.m. Report of suspicious activity on Lattimer Street proved to be unfounded. Saturday, Oct. 22 12:14 a.m. Officers responded to the scene of a traffic accident reported on Lafayette and Maple streets. They arrived to find a Toyota Sienna, an Uber vehicle, that was transporting two people from Salem to Revere. Officer spoke to a passenger in the Uber who said that there was a car stopped at the light hea...

Marblehead Police Department retains accreditation, Chief Dennis King reports

27Oct

By William J. DowdNo Comments

Local News, Municipal Matters, Public safety

Marblehead Police Department retains accreditation, Chief Dennis King reports

Marblehead Police Department has retained its accreditation from the the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission. Police Chief Dennis King brought the news before the Marblehead Select Board on Wednesday night. "What this means is we adhere to the best practices in policing from professional standards to hiring and use of force to transparency," King told Select Board members. "We are guided by 257 different standards that probably covers over 200 pages." The accreditation process is not compulsory, but an evaluation process that police departments subject themselves to. Independent evaluators come in and look over everything from a department's policies and procedures to police practices. "It really is a complete department accomplishment," King said. He adde...

5K reward offered for info as Marblehead officials investigate arson case

27Oct

By Marblehead News staffNo Comments

Local News, Public safety, Top Stories

5K reward offered for info as Marblehead officials investigate arson case

Marblehead Fire Chief Jason R. Gilliland, Marblehead Police Chief Dennis King, and State Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey are asking for the public’s help as they investigate a suspicious fire Monday morning at a building under construction. In particular, officials hope to identify and speak with a person who can be seen in footage that was recorded around the time of the fire by a camera near the scene. “We believe this person may have information that could be helpful to investigators,” said Gilliland. “We also encourage anyone with knowledge of the incident to contact the Arson Watch Reward Program at 1-800-682-9229. You can reach out 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and all calls are confidential.” The Arson Watch Reward Program is coordinated by the Massachusetts Property ...

Marblehead Police asking for public’s help to identify arson suspect

25Oct

By William J. DowdNo Comments

Local News, Public safety, Top Stories

Marblehead Police asking for public’s help to identify arson suspect

Marblehead public safety officials are seeking the public’s assistance in identifying an arson suspect in “an ongoing investigation.” On Tuesday, Marblehead police put out an advisory with a video identifying “what appears to be a light skinned male, medium build, with shoulder length hair, wearing glasses, and headphones” walking onto a residential construction site where police later responded to a fire in the early morning Monday. “At approximately 1 a.m. on Monday, Marblehead Police responded to an alarm call to a residential construction project site,” the Marblehead Police Department writes. “Within minutes of arriving, officers located and extinguished a fire on the property. Marblehead Police are seeking assistance in identifying a person of interest.” In August, crews ...