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Winthrop Police Officer Awarded Medal of Honor at Annual George L. Hanna Memorial Awards for Bravery

jgprrobert November 3, 2022 Police

Chief Terence M. Delehanty is pleased to announce that Sgt. Nicholas Bettano received Massachusetts law enforcement’s highest honor at the annual George L. Hanna Memorial Awards for Bravery.

Sgt. Nicholas Bettano was awarded the Medal of Honor by Gov. Charlie Baker and Hanna’s daughters on Tuesday, Nov. 1 at Mechanics Hall in Worcester.

On June 26, 2021, Winthrop Police responded to an incident in which a suspect crashed a stolen box truck into a vehicle and building, then fatally shooting two bystanders.

*Sgt. Nicholas Bettano receives the Medal of Honor from Gov. Baker during the annual George L. Hanna Memorial Awards for Bravery ceremony. (Photo Courtesy Winthrop Police Department)*

Sgt. Bettano was the first to arrive on scene, learning en route that he was responding to an active shooter incident. Upon arrival, a bystander directed Sgt. Bettano toward the suspect, whom he observed to be in possession of a handgun.

Sgt. Bettano assisted multiple bystanders to safety before making several attempts at commanding the suspect to drop his weapon. The suspect aimed his firearm at Sgt. Bettano, forcing him to discharge his weapon. Sgt. Bettano wounded and ultimately killed the suspect, protecting the safety and security of himself and others.

The subsequent investigation revealed the suspect may have intended to crash the truck into a synagogue.

“Sgt. Bettano exhibited an immense amount of courage and bravery during this tragic incident, and I am proud of his dedication to keeping Winthrop safe,” said Chief Delehanty. “When faced with a dangerous threat he acted both professionally and heroically to neutralize a threat to our community. I am proud of Sgt. Bettano for his quick thinking, bravery, and ability to remain calm under immense pressure. His actions unquestionably saved lives.”

The Medal of Honor is awarded to officers who demonstrate actions above and beyond the call of duty, exhibiting extraordinary bravery and courage, while disregarding the potential for danger or great risk to themselves during the course of an individual incident.

Retired state Trooper David Green, one of the bystanders killed during the incident, was also recognized posthumously for his bravery in leaving the safety of his home and attempting to provide aid following the crash.

About the George L. Hanna Award

The Hanna Memorial Awards for Bravery is an annual event named after George L. Hanna, a 10-year State Trooper who lost his life serving the Commonwealth on Feb. 26, 1983.

The Hanna Awards, which have been held annually since 1983, have become a symbol of prestige within both the law enforcement community and the Commonwealth as a whole. It is an opportunity to publicly recognize the bravery of members of the law enforcement community who put their lives on the line by dedicating themselves to safety throughout Massachusetts.

Winthrop Community and Law Enforcement Assisted Recovery (CLEAR) Selected to Be 1 of 8 National Mentor Programs

jgprrobert October 12, 2022 Police

Chief Terence M. Delehanty and Health Director Meredith Hurley are pleased to share that the Community and Law Enforcement Assisted Recovery (CLEAR) program was selected by the U.S. Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) to serve as one of eight mentor programs for other peer-to-peer recovery programs across the nation.

The BJA’s Peer Recovery Support Services Mentoring Initiative (PRSSMI) selects top peer-to-peer recovery programs from across the country to serve as examples that can support newer programs and agencies that are interested in starting programs by supporting program-to-program learning among organizations.

CLEAR was born in 2014 as a collaboration between Winthrop public safety agencies and Winthrop Department of Public Health and Clinical Services. The organization has expanded and developed in the years since, and now includes a robust, multidisciplinary team of service providers and helpers who wrap around community members struggling with mental health challenges, substance use issues, domestic violence, housing insecurity, and food scarcity.

Police, firefighters and public health personnel use police data to identify and find those struggling with substance use disorder, mental health issues, and domestic violence challenges and works to provide assistance and wrap-around services to those individuals in an effort to get them into recovery and to support them in the recovery process.

CLEAR, along with programs in California, Montana, Nebraska, Texas, Oklahoma, North Carolina and Alabama were selected as mentor programs this year after a vetting process that included an application and interviews.

Mentor programs will now be singled out to provide examples of best practices to those interested in starting new programs and those with programs in the early stages of development.

“In 2014, 21st Century Policing began in Winthrop, when Public Safety and Public Health partnered to help respond to the overdose crisis. With input from outside the box thinkers and people with lived experience, we developed a recovery-oriented community policing methodology, known as CLEAR, that utilizes police data for targeted interventions into the community to prevent people from ending up in cages and coffins,” said Lt. Sarko Gergerian, a founding member of CLEAR. “The multidisciplinary team of helpers that formed around this core mission work together to circle around any community member who accepts the help. It is an honor to be able to help others from across the United States to begin their own public safety and health partnerships and develop multidisciplinary teams of helpers that value individuals with lived experience.”

“We are pleased that the Bureau of Justice Assistance recognized CLEAR for it’s groundbreaking and effective work to curb the toll drug overdoses and substance use disorder on our community,” said Chief Delehanty. “I hope the hard work of our local organization will help others across the country overcome obstacles, identify best practices, and save lives.”

“CLEAR is doing vital, life-saving work in our community and we could not be more proud that our local effort will now provide an example to others around the country who are working to save lives from the scourges of substance use disorder and the mental health crisis,” said Director Hurley. “Our evidence-based practices and results-focused work continues to save lives locally, and we hope this type of programming will spread across the country.”

For more information on CLEAR, visit: https://winthropclear.com/.

Winthrop Police Arrest and Charge Two Men with Trafficking Fentanyl

jgprrobert September 27, 2022 Police

Chief Terence M. Delehanty reports that the Winthrop Police Department arrested and charged two men with trafficking fentanyl.

GABERIAL ARIAS, AGE 30, of SAUGUS, was arrested and charged with:

Trafficking over 100 grams of a Class A Substance
Trafficking Fentanyl (Two Counts)
Distribution of Fentanyl (Two Counts)

PATRICE DEBNAM, AGE 30, of LYNN, was arrested and charged with:

Trafficking over 100 grams of a Class A Substance

On Monday, Sept 26, at approximately 11 a.m., members of the Winthrop Police Department and the Winthrop Criminal Investigative Unit, in collaboration with the Saugus and Everett Police Departments, executed search warrants for the residence, vehicle and person of ARIAS in connection with an ongoing investigation.

Officers located ARIAS at a Gulf Gas station in Winthrop, with another individual who was later identified as DEBNAM, in a white Toyota Corolla operated by DEBNAM.

While conducting a search of ARIAS, officers located over $500, drug paraphernalia and over 36 grams of what was determined to be fentanyl. A search of the vehicle occupied by DEBNAM and ARAIS led to the discovery of over 100 grams of fentanyl in bags in the vehicle’s glove box.

Both men were arrested without incident and taken to the Winthrop Police Station for booking.

Officers also conducted a search warrant on ARIAS’ residence in Saugus, where they located additional drug paraphernalia.

ARIAS was arraigned on Tuesday, Sept. 27 in East Boston District Court, and is being held on $50,000 bail.

DEBNAM was arraigned on Tuesday, Sept. 27 in East Boston District Court and is being held on $5,000 bail.

“I would like to thank Saugus Police and the Everett Police Departments for their assistance in this investigation,” said Chief Delehenty. “I would also like to commend our Criminal Investigative Unit for their work on this case. Fentanyl is an extremely harmful substance and I am proud of our department, as well as our partners for their help in keeping our community safe.”

Winthrop Police Department Charges Woman With Civil Rights Violation

jgprrobert September 19, 2022 Police

Police Chief Terence M. Delehanty and Town Manager Anthony Marino report that the Winthrop Police Department arrested a woman for a Civil Rights Violation after a violent act of hate and vandalism that occurred over the weekend.

ANGELA FOLEY, AGE 43, of WINTHROP, was arrested and charged with:

Civil Rights Violation
Malicious Destruction of Property Over $1,200
Malicious Destruction of Property Under $1,200

On Saturday, Sept. 17 at approximately 6:50 a.m. Winthrop Police Department received reports that a woman, later identified as FOLEY, was yelling racial obscenities and vandalized a resident’s vehicle in the area of Beach Road and Shore Drive.

An on-scene investigation determined that the suspect, FOLEY, smashed several neighbors’ windows, vandalized a motor vehicle and yelled racial obscenities in full view of several neighbors.

FOLEY was located at the scene and arrested.

“The hateful language used by this defendant as she committed several offenses in front of neighbors was inexcusable. Hate speech is not always illegal in our country, but it is always unwelcome in the Town of Winthrop,” said Chief Delehanty. “Incidents like this demand a response, and these types of incidents and hatred are part of the reason the Winthrop Police Department has a dedicated Civil Rights Officer. We must respond to these incidents and make it clear that this kind of hatred is not acceptable to our community.”

“On behalf of the Town of Winthrop, I condemn these acts of hate,” Town Manager Marino said. “I ask all of Winthrop to join me in rejecting hate and doing everything in our power to ensure we are a welcoming, caring community that is not afraid to speak up along with our neighbors in the face of hatred.”

“I would like to join Town Manager Marino and Chief Delehanty in making it abundantly clear that the Town of Winthrop rejects hatred in all of its forms,” said Town Council President James Letterie. “Our thoughts are with those who were targeted by these awful acts, and I pledge the Town of Winthrop will always do everything possible to combat hatred and to offer our hearts and assistance to all who face it.”

FOLEY was held on $500 cash bail over the weekend, and was arraigned Monday in East Boston District Court.

These are all allegations. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty.

Winthrop Health Department Invites Residents to Community Event in Recognition of National Recovery Month

jgprrobert September 13, 2022 Uncategorized

Health Director Meredith Hurley and the Town of Winthrop invite the community to a candlelight procession and community event in recognition of National Recovery Month.

WHEN:

Wednesday, Sept. 21, from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

WHERE:

Beginning at Winthrop Town Hall, 1 Metcalf Square, Winthrop, MA, ending at Harold French Square

WHAT:

September is National Recovery Month, which aims to highlight gains in substance use treatment and prevention while also honoring the lives lost to substance use disorder.

Winthrop Public Health and Clinical Services is hosting a community event that will include a candlelight procession from Town Hall to French Square to honor those lost to substance use disorder, followed by an event in French Square with several speakers, educational resources and information provided by local addiction and recovery organizations, food and other refreshments.

There will be several speakers in French Square, and emotional supports will be available in consideration of people who may experience grief while attending.

Organizations that include the Winthrop Community and Law Enforcement Assisted Recovery (CLEAR) team, the Massachusetts Organization of Addiction and Recovery (MOAR) and Community Against Substance Abuse (CASA) will provide information on recovery and treatment resources.

Food and refreshments will be provided by several Winthrop restaurants.

For more information and to view the candlelight walk route, visit: https://winthropclear.com/.

Winthrop Police Department Announces Retirement of K-9 Clint

jgprrobert July 7, 2022 Police

Chief Terence M. Delehanty would like to announce the retirement of valued Winthrop Police K-9 Clint.

Clint has served with the Winthrop Police Department since April 2015 and was partnered with Officer David Brown. They began their partnership by attending a 14-week police academy, as well as a subsequent 6-week narcotics detection course.

Clint and Officer Brown were both members of the Northeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council (NEMLEC) K-9 team, which responds to searches in communities across the northeastern part of the state.

Clint took part in numerous search and rescue operations, searches for missing persons, and searches for suspects throughout his eight years of service.

Notably, Clint helped locate a young girl who went missing in Winthrop for several hours, using his ability to track scents to locate the girl hiding under a bed in an abandoned home where the girl’s grandmother used to live. Clint also assisted Officer Brown and Winthrop Police in locating a criminal suspect who kicked in the door of a home in town before fleeing and hiding in a nearby garage.

Officer Brown noted that Clint would often walk in a large circle before pursuing a scent.

“They tell you in training classes that it’s not the dog that’s learning the officer, it’s the officer learning the dog,” Officer Brown said. “You learn their behavior and how they react when they’re looking for an object or a suspect, and you learn to communicate based on their behavior.”

Clint officially retired from his police duties earlier this week and will live out his retirement with Officer Brown and his family.

“It will take him a while to get accustomed to staying home, but he has the run of the back yard now,” said Officer Brown. “He never called in sick for work, and was always ready to go with me and provide the best service he could to the people of Winthrop.”

Officer David Brown and his K-9 partner Clint. Clint retired this week after an eight year career with Winthrop Police, and is now enjoying retirement in Officer Brown’s back yard. (Photo Courtesy Winthrop Police Department)

Winthrop Police Charge Man with Trafficking Fentanyl and Crack Cocaine

jgprrobert June 27, 2022 Police

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Chief Terence M. Delehanty reports that the Winthrop Police Department arrested and charged a Lynn man with drug trafficking as a result of a lengthy police investigation aimed at disrupting the flow of deadly illicit narcotics in the region.

VICTOR MARTINEZ, AGE 22, OF LYNN, was arrested and charged with:

Trafficking a Class A substance (Over 100 Grams of Fentanyl)
Trafficking in Class B Substance (Crack Cocaine)
Possession of Ammunition Without an FID

On Thursday, June 23, the Winthrop Police Department executed a search warrant issued by East Boston District Court for a residence on Trident Avenue that is leased by MARTINEZ.

The search warrant was obtained as a result of a lengthy investigation conducted by the Winthrop Police Department.

During execution of the search warrant, police located nearly 160 grams of Fentanyl, 22 grams of crack cocaine, scales, packaging materials, cell phones, $2,500 in cash, as well as a .22 caliber firearm, .45 caliber ammunition, and two pistol magazines were recovered.

The investigations remains active and ongoing, and Winthrop Police may bring additional charges.

MARTINEZ was arraigned Friday in East Boston District Court, where he was ordered held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing that was scheduled for Tuesday, June 28.

These are allegations. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty.

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Winthrop Police Department Welcomes New Officer from Police Academy

jgprrobert May 19, 2022 Police

Chief Terence M. Delehanty is pleased to share that Reserve Officer Guy Prather recently graduated from the police academy and will now join the Winthrop Police Department.

Officer Prather graduated from the Municipal Police Training Committee’s 29th Boylston Police Academy on Monday, and will now go to work as a certified Reserve Officer while his appointment to a full-time position is pending.

Officer Prather has worked previously with Babson College and the U.S. Federal Reserve Police. He has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the New England College of Business, and a master’s degree with honors in Criminal Justice from UMass Lowell.

“I want to congratulate Officer Prather on graduating from the police academy. He will be an experienced and capable addition to our department and community and I’m pleased to welcome him,” said Chief Delehanty.

*Officer Guy Prather graduated from the Municipal Police Training Committee’s 29th Boylston Police Academy on Monday. (Photo Courtesy Winthrop Police Department)*

Winthrop Police Respond to Crash Involving Pedestrian

jgprrobert February 9, 2022 Police

Chief Terence M. Delehanty reports that the Winthrop Police Department responded to a motor vehicle crash involving an MBTA bus and a pedestrian on Wednesday in Metcalf Square.

Winthrop Police and Firefighters became aware of a crash in front of the police station in Metcalf Square at approximately 2:45 p.m., immediately provided first aid to an injured man, and secured the scene of the crash.

The crash is being investigated by Massachusetts State Police and Transit Police, so additional details of the incident will not be released by Winthrop Police.

Winthrop Police and the Town of Winthrop are encouraging drivers to avoid the area of Metcalf Square for the next several hours, as road closures will be in place while the crash scene is investigated.

Roads will be closed this afternoon at the following locations:

Herman Street and Belcher Street
All of Metcalf Square and Winthrop Street
Winthrop Street and Wadsworth Street
Pauline Street and Fremont Street

Winthrop Public Safety

Author: jgprrobert