New police officers Vincent Turco, Roger Noll, Michael Lamb, Robert Peck, and Anthony Frongillo (left to right).
The Needham Police Department just swore in five new police officers, all hailing from Needham. Their names are Michael Lamb, Vincent Turco, Robert Peck, Roger Noll and Anthony Frongillo.
Lt. Chris Baker said the department doesn’t usually send five new potential officers to Police Academy at the same time, but the department saw an unusual number of retirements recently, leading to numerous vacancies on the force. The department maintains a staff of 49 officers overall. Baker said even with the recent hires, the department still has one or two vacancies right now.
Throughout the years, the Needham Police Union has made it a point to ‘give back to our community’. Our mission statement reads “dedicated to making a difference in our community” and that is true. However, in reviewing what we have done the past few years, we feel that we haven’t done enough for the seniors and children of ‘our’ Town.
In the past, we have taken seniors on casino trips, but we wanted to offer a way that seniors can enjoy a variety of events. With that being said, the Needham Police Union created an annual scholarship of $1,000 to be called the “Socialization and Recreational Scholarship for Seniors”. This will allow seniors to participate in such activities as the Turkey Train, the Singing Tenors, the Cape Cod Cruise, Duck Tours, etc.
We also realized that children feel the effects of the economic uncertainty in today’s world, too. The Needham Police Union created an annual scholarship to be awarded to the YMCA (Charles River Division) to assist children who need financial assistance to attend a summer camp. We are dedicated to making a difference in their lives too.
Throughout the year, we’ve been generous in giving to community organizations. These include NHS 5th Quarter, Needham 300, NHS scholarships, Needham American Legion, Needham Little League, Needham Pee Wee Hockey, High Rock School Camp, Donna Dick Memorial Fund, Charles River Industries, Needham Spelling Bee, Needham Lion’s Club, Charles River Industries to name a few. We’ve also donated to additional organizations such as Easter Seals, Pan Mass Challenge, The Samaritans, Cops for Kids with Cancer, REACH, MDA, and Children’s Hospital ‘Miles for Miracles’. All of this could not be possible if it wasn’t for your generous donations. We hope we can keep the tradition alive.
On behalf of the Needham Police Union, we appreciate your generous donations and yourcontinued support. Thank-you!
The Needham Police and Fire departments were recognized Tuesday evening with the second “Voice of the People” award for excellence in service, an award given out annually by the International City Management Association.
The award is based on citizen responses in a bi-annual survey conducted by the town and is presented to communities with the highest rated services according to a representative sample of its residents, according to Town Manager Kate Fitzpatrick.
Needham residents’ rating of the town’s police, fire and emergency medical services ranked in the top 10 percent of the more than 500 communities surveyed in 2010.
In Needham’s 2010 survey, residents rated police, fire and EMS services as excellent or good 97 percent, 99 percent and 97 percent of the time, respectively, according to Fitzpatrick.
It was the second year Needham participated in the survey and the second year the town was honored with the “Voice of the People” award.
Fire Chief Paul Buckley and Police Chief Phil Droney were present to receive the reward.
“It’s nice to be recognized by the citizenry for what we do day in and day out,” Droney said.
Both chiefs credited the people in their departments for providing excellent service to Needham residents.
Also present to receive the award were three members of the departments representing each of the three areas—police, fire and EMS.
“All the people that I work with are great. There are three of the exceptional people,” Buckley said.
Police officers, family members and town officials gathered at Cook’s Bridge on Captain Robert Cook Drive Tuesday night to dedicate the housing complex’s annual cookout to Officer Kevin Bolio, who died of Lou Gehrig’s disease five years ago.
At the event, those who knew him said that Bolio was a charity-oriented police officer, who was involved in everything from organizing the Needham Policeman’s Ball to holding benefits to raise money for cheerleaders’ uniforms to working with the Charles River Association for Retarded Citizens.
“Kevin was a real community policeman,” said Selectman Dan Matthews at the cook-out. “He was a cop, but he made a point of relating to people on a personal level.”
The Needham Police Union voted unanimously to change the name of the annual Cook’s Bridge Cookout to Officer Kevin Bolio Day.
“We didn’t want Kevin’s name to go without being recognized,” said Detective Joseph O’Brien in a short speech at the event. In his speech, O’Brien also emphasized Bolio’s connection to charity work and neighborhood events.
“When I tell you that he was up until 1 a.m. making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, well, that’s just the way he was,” said O’Brien.
Bolio’s family said that he had a strong connection to the housing complex. His son Mike Bolio said that he grew up in the neighborhood, and that Mike used to play Little League down the street. His wife Jeanne Bolio reminisced about what he would do for the neighborhood.
“I remember at Christmas time he would bring presents down for the kids who couldn’t afford anything,” she said.
O’Brien presented a plaque to the Bolios commemorating their husband and father’s exceptional contributions to the community.
“It’s a nice honor in honor of my father,” said daughter Lindsay O’Brien. “He did a lot for the community. It’s nice that he’s recognized for that.”
And Sergeant Belinda Carroll, who knew Bolio for 20 years, summed up her memories of him.
“He was an incredible person who would donate his time anywhere to anyone who needed it,” she said. “It was just his way of life.”
Three Needham Police Officers were injured during a scuffle with a man who allegedly threatened to kill the officers with a barbeque fork.
Mardochee Chevalier was arrested Wednesday on four counts of Assault and Battery by Means of a Dangerous Weapon, including a barbecue fork, and shod foot. He was also charged with Disorderly Conduct; Resisting Arrest; Threats to Commit a Crime and Operating a Motor Vehicle with a Suspended License.
On Wednesday, June 22, 2011, at approximately 9:32 a.m., a Needham Police Officer was monitoring traffic on Great Plain Ave in front of the Needham town common when he was approached by a motorist who told him that the operator of another vehicle had exited his vehicle, leaving it abandoned in the travel lane, then running towards the hardware store on the corner.
The officer observed an individual, later identified as Chevalier, holding a steel rake over his head, about to strike the window of a stopped passenger car on Chestnut Street.
Chevalier allegedly saw the officer and dropped the rake while approaching him. He handed the officer an ID, and then pulled a large barbeque fork out of his back pocket, moving towards the officer while holding the fork in a threatening manner above his head.
The officer was able to get Chevalier to drop the weapon after repeated orders. Another officer arrived and during attempts to arrest Chevalier, he allegedly resisted by kicking the officers with his heavy work boots. Other officers arrived to assist in handcuffing Chevalier, and eventually they were able to do so, but he continued to actively resist attempts to restrain him by allegedly kicking, punching, and spitting at the officers.
Three officers sustained injuries at the scene during the efforts to restrain Chevalier and they were treated at Beth Israel Deaconess Needham Medical Center.
