Public safety - Marblehead Current

More than a dozen capital projects underway or completed across Marblehead

27Sep

By William J. DowdNo Comments

Local News, Municipal Matters, Public safety, Top Stories

More than a dozen capital projects underway or completed across Marblehead

The Select Board has approved several maintenance and improvement projects for town buildings and infrastructure in recent months — some of which have reached completion. A collage of the town's planned and completed infrastructure projects, funded by a $24.3 million debt-exclusion, capital improvement plans and COVID-19 relief dollars. CURRENT ILLUSTRATION / WILLIAM J. DOWD The projects are funded through a combination of sources, including Town Meeting appropriations, capital improvement budgets and federal COVID-19 relief dollars. However, many of the projects are funded by the $24.3 million debt-exclusion override voters passed in 2022. About half of that override — $12.5 million — is going toward repairing deteriorating roads and crumbling sidewalks. The town also allocated ...

27Sep

By William J. DowdNo Comments

Police Log, Public safety, Uncategorized

POLICE LOG: A literal run-in with police in the MHS parking lot, plus a possible bike thief

Excerpts from the Marblehead police log Sept. 12-17. Consistent with state law, Marblehead Police have adopted a policy of not providing media outlets reports related to incidents involving domestic violence, juveniles and matters that remain under investigation. Sept. 12 6:15 p.m. — Officer Michael Farewell was dispatched to the station to meet with an individual regarding fraudulent work purportedly done on their garage door. The person reported hiring a company to install a new garage door motor valued at approximately $900. After the installation, the company allegedly advised the person that new "door springs" were needed, estimated at $550. An appointment was scheduled, and a technician allegedly replaced the door springs. The person wrote a check to an individual named Ne...

17Sep

By William J. DowdNo Comments

Local News, Police Log, Public safety

POLICE LOG: The case of the mysterious safe

Excerpts from the Marblehead police log Sept. 5-11. 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. Sept. 5 9:17 a.m. — Officer Andrew Clark responded to a call at Oceanview Glass on Humphrey Street. The reporting party, a 59-year-old male, alerted police about an abandoned Fire Fyter safe in the rear parking lot of the business. A witness, a 62-year-old female employed at a neighboring business, Humphrey Street Tailoring, mentioned she did not notice the safe when she left work the previous day at 5 p.m. Upon arrival, Clark observed visible signs of force used to allegedly open the safe, such as dents and scrat...

14Sep

By Leigh BlanderNo Comments

Environment, Local News, Public safety, Sailing, Top Stories

Harbormaster: Best advice is to ‘prepare for the worst’

Marblehead Harbormaster Mark Souza is keeping a close eye on Hurricane Lee as it heads up the Atlantic coast. According to the National Weather Service, "Lee should bring rough surf and possible storm surge flooding, damaging winds, and bands of heavy rain to at least coastal areas of Massachusetts and Rhode Island." As of Thursday morning, Lee was about 800 miles south of Nantucket. Souza is adding on-call staff to handle any problems with the stormy weather which he predicts will hit Marblehead overnight Friday. "We're just recommending that the public use the opportunity today and tomorrow to secure equipment on boats ... if they can haul their boat to do that," Souza told the Current, adding that he is seeing people take their boats out of the water. "We have our boats re...

12Sep

By Leigh BlanderNo Comments

Community resources, Environment, Local News, Municipal Matters, Public safety, Top Stories

Hurricane Lee prompts Marblehead Harbor warning

Marblehead Harbormaster Mark Souza put out a warning Tuesday afternoon as Hurricane Lee makes its way up the Atlantic. "The projected path and forecast for Hurricane Lee is still uncertain, but at the very least we are expecting tropical storm force gusts, coastal flooding and high seas," Souza wrote in an email to boat owners. "We will be raising gangways on Thursday afternoon around 12 p.m. and recommend you check your launch servicer's websites for updates about suspension of service timeframes. Please remove all tenders from town docks and kayaks from town racks prior to Thursday at noon. Hurricane Lee is Category 3 storm right now. It is not clear whehter it will impact the New England coast. but the Outer Cape and Nantucket are in the so-called forecast cone, according to WCVB...

Case of suspended Marblehead police officer takes step forward

12Sep

By William J. DowdNo Comments

Local News, Municipal Matters, Public safety, Top Stories, Uncategorized

Case of suspended Marblehead police officer takes step forward

The disciplinary case against a Marblehead police officer accused of spending over 100 hours at home while on duty has reached a new stage, Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer told the Marblehead Current on Sept. 11. Marblehead police officer Christopher Gallo remains on paid administrative leave as the disciplinary case against him enters its next phase. CURRENT PHOTO / LEIGH BLANDER Kezer, serving as hearing officer in the case against Officer Christopher Gallo, said the deadline for attorneys to submit final briefs passed Monday at 11:59 p.m. This marks the conclusion of the evidentiary and testimony phase of the proceedings. "The attorneys for both sides met the deadline and submitted their briefs last night," Kezer said. "The case is now on my desk." Kezer will spend the ne...

12Sep

By William J. DowdNo Comments

Local News, Public safety

POLICE LOG: Craigslist file cabinet scam foiled

Excerpts from the Marblehead police log of Tuesday, Aug. 29 through Monday, Sept. 4, 2023. 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. Aug. 29 9:11 p.m. — Officer Dean Peralta was dispatched to South Street following a report of alleged damage to property. Upon arrival, Peralta was greeted by the homeowner. Peralta observed a wooden fence approximately 4 feet high and 4 feet long bent over. The fence had been bolted to two metal stakes, which were cemented into the ground; these stakes were also bent. The damage suggested considerable force had been used, likely by a vehicle backing into the fence. Scrape marks...

NEVER FORGET: Marblehead honors 9/11 victims in 22nd anniversary ceremony

11Sep

By William J. DowdNo Comments

Local News, Municipal Matters, Public safety, Top Stories, Uncategorized

NEVER FORGET: Marblehead honors 9/11 victims in 22nd anniversary ceremony

Marblehead solemnly marked the 22nd anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks Monday morning with a Memorial Park observance. About 115 people attended the observance that featured remarks from local officials, prayers led by clergy and the laying of a wreath to honor the nearly 3,000 victims who died on Sept. 11, 2001. Marblehead residents gather with bowed heads at Memorial Park to mark the 22nd anniversary of the September 11 attacks. CURRENT PHOTOS / WILLIAM J. DOWD "Twenty-two years to the day, 19 al Qaeda terrorists murdered 2,977 men, women and children at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and in a quiet field outside Shanksville, Pennsylvania," said Marblehead Fire Chief Jason Gilliland. Gilliland noted the ceremony aimed to remember the "innocent victims" of 9/...

Marblehead firefighter chokes back tears with son by his side as he shares reflections on 9/11

11Sep

By Leigh BlanderNo Comments

Education, Local News, Public safety, Top Stories

Marblehead firefighter chokes back tears with son by his side as he shares reflections on 9/11

Marblehead firefighter Todd Burt choked back tears and called his young son, Noah, to his side as he spoke at a 9/11 program at the Epstein Hillel School this morning. Burt shared his reflections with EHS students in grades five through eight. He talked about the brave New York City firefighters who, carrying 100 pounds of gear, walked up 80 flights of stairs at the World Trade Center to respond to a report of a fire. On their way up, they got word that the two towers had been hit by planes. Marblehead Firefighter Todd Burt with his son, Noah, at a 9/11 memorial at the Epstein Hillel School. CURRENT PHOTOS / LEIGH BLANDER “That did not stop one firefighter from walking up those stairs,” Burt said, choking back tears. “They walked up not knowing if they would be coming back down...

Former Marblehead postal worker pleads guilty to conversion of over $18K in government money

6Sep

By Marblehead Current staffNo Comments

Local News, Public safety

Former Marblehead postal worker pleads guilty to conversion of over $18K in government money

A former Marblehead U.S. Postal Service employee pleaded guilty in federal court in Boston on Sept. 6 in connection with two schemes to convert USPS funds. Zeon Johnson, 28, of Saugus, pleaded guilty to one count of conversion of government money. U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris scheduled sentencing for Dec. 1. In May 2022, Johnson was indicted by a federal grand jury. Beginning in approximately August 2018, Johnson worked as a sales and service distribution associate for USPS at the Marblehead Post Office. As part of his job, Johnson sold stamps and processed money order transactions for USPS customers. From approximately July 2019 through June 2020, Johnson converted over $18,000 in USPS funds for personal use by stealing cash paid by customers for stamps and issuing U...