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Three Winthrop Firefighters Graduate from Massachusetts Firefighting Academy’s Career Recruit Program

jgprstaff December 8, 2023 Fire

Firefighter Matthew Amabello (Left) was among the 30 graduates from 17 fire departments to graduate from the Academy’s Career Recruit Firefighter Training Program Class #316. He is pictured with Chief Scott Wiley. (Photo Courtesy Winthrop Fire Department)

Firefighter Aileen Kane (Left) was among the 30 graduates from 17 fire departments to graduate from the Academy’s Career Recruit Firefighter Training Program Class #316. She is pictured with Chief Scott Wiley. (Photo Courtesy Winthrop Fire Department)

Firefighter Jarret Herdt (Left) was among the 30 graduates from 17 fire departments to graduate from the Academy’s Career Recruit Firefighter Training Program Class #316. He is pictured with Chief Scott Wiley. (Photo Courtesy Winthrop Fire Department)

WINTHROP – Chief Scott Wiley is pleased to announce that three Winthrop firefighters graduated from the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy (MFA) on Dec. 8.

Firefighters Matthew Amabello, Jarret Herdt and Aileen Kane were among the 30 graduates from 17 fire departments to graduate from the Academy’s Career Recruit Firefighter Training Program Class #316. The graduates completed the 50-day Career Recruit Firefighting Training Program at the Stow campus.

The graduation ceremony was attended by Chief Wiley, other members of the department and the recruits’ families and friends.

“On behalf of the entire department, I would like to recognize Firefighters Matthew Amabello, Jarret Herdt and Aileen Kane on their graduation from the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy Career Recruit Program,” said Chief Wiley. “These graduates are now well-prepared to serve the Winthrop community and we look forward to welcoming them to the department.”

The program teaches the essentials of fire and non-fire conditions, life safety, search and rescue, ladder operations, water supply, pump operation and fire attack. The graduates are now certified at the level of Firefighter I and II and in hazardous material operation.

“Massachusetts firefighters are on the frontlines protecting their communities every day, and today’s graduates are needed now more than ever,” said State Fire Marshal Davine. “The hundreds of hours of foundational training they’ve received will provide them with the physical, mental, and technical skills to perform their jobs effectively and safely.”

The other 27 graduates represent the fire departments of #316 represent the fire departments of Amesbury, Bedford, Boxborough, Lawrence, Leominster, Lowell, Middleborough, Nantucket, North Reading, Northborough, Norwell, Peabody, Revere, Sharon, Stoneham, and Sudbury.

About The Massachusetts Firefighting Academy:

At the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy, firefighter recruits learn a wide range of skills in an intensive 10-week program. Certified and more experienced firefighters lead classroom instruction, physical fitness training, firefighter skills training and firefighting practice. Students are given training in public fire education, hazardous material incident mitigation, flammable liquids, stress management, confined space rescue techniques and rappelling. Upon successful completion of the Recruit Program, all students have met national standards of National Fire Protection Association 1001.

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Winthrop Fire Department Awarded Over $12,000 in Grant Funding for Safety Equipment

jgprstaff December 14, 2022 Fire

WINTHROP – Chief Scott Wiley is pleased to announce that the Winthrop Fire Department is one of over 300 fire departments across the state to have been awarded a grant as part of the Department of Fire Services Fiscal Year 2023 Firefighter Safety Equipment Grant Program.

The $12,840.79 grant awarded to the Winthrop Fire Department will be used to purchase personal protective equipment and ballistic protection equipment.

The program provides local fire departments with a variety of equipment that makes the dangerous job of firefighting safer. This is the third year that funding has been awarded for this purpose as part of a five-year, $25 million bond bill filed by the Baker-Polito Administration to support firefighter safety and health in the coming years.

Fire departments in Massachusetts were able to apply to this program for 121 different types of eligible equipment, including ballistic protective clothing, thermal protective clothing, gear washers and dryers, thermal imaging cameras, assorted hand tools and extrication equipment, communications resources, hazardous gas meters, fitness equipment and more.

“Every time a firefighter goes to work, they could be asked to rescue a child from a burning building, clean up a spill of hazardous materials, treat a patient with a contagious medical condition, or rush into a hostile event to rescue and treat victims,” said State Fire Marshal Peter Ostroskey. “This program is absolutely vital to helping fire departments prepare for the vast array of hazards they face today and making sure that firefighters go home safe after every call.”

A complete list of the awards by department can be found here.

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Middleton Man Charged in Vandalism of DCR Sign Following Investigation by Winthrop and Massachusetts State Police

jgprstaff November 3, 2022 Police

WINTHROP — Winthrop and Massachusetts State Police have identified a Middleton man as the person who repeatedly vandalized a sign on Winthrop Beach with a vulgar phrase and have summonsed the suspect to court to face criminal charges.

The sign, owned by the state Department of Conservation and Recreation and located at 254 Winthrop Shore Drive, was tagged with a heavy marker on multiple dates, typically early on Sunday mornings, from August through October.

Winthrop Police Detectives obtained camera footage showing the suspect committing the crime and arriving and leaving from the area on foot. On October 24, an investigator identified the suspect as MARK EVANS, AGE 61, OF MIDDLETON.

“Crimes like these have a direct negative impact on the quality of life of our residents, which is why we take them very seriously,” Winthrop Police Chief Terence Delehanty said. “I want to thank our officers and our partners at the Massachusetts State Police for their considerable effort in identifying and holding this individual responsible for his alleged actions.”

Winthrop Police shared the evidence and identification with the State Police-Revere Barracks, which has jurisdiction over DCR property. A Trooper contacted EVANS and arranged an interview of the suspect, which was conducted on Oct. 28 at the barracks.

Following the interview, and statements made by EVANS, police informed him he was being summonsed to appear in East Boston District Court on criminal charges of tagging property and malicious destruction of property under $1,200.

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Winthrop Police Department Accepting Applications for Civilian Police Academy

jgprstaff October 6, 2022 Police

WINTHROP — Chief Terence M. Delehanty is pleased to announce that residents can now sign up for the Winthrop Police Department’s Civilian Police Academy this fall.

This free program is open to Winthrop residents aged 18 and up. Classes will be held on Thursdays from Nov. 3 through Jan. 19, from 6:30-9 p.m. in the Lyceum Room at the E.B. Newton School Cultural Center, 45 Pauline St. Classes will not be held the week of Thanksgiving or Christmas.

Various members of the Winthrop Police Department will lead classes in their fields of expertise during the 10 classes. Topics will include domestic violence, police exploring, motor vehicle law, patrol procedures, accidents, firearms, critical incidents, implicit bias, gangs, juveniles, as well as narcotics enforcement, prevention and treatment. Participants will have the opportunity to attend a ride-along with a Winthrop Police officer.

“Students will leave this class having learned a wide range of topics that are integral to everyday police work,” Chief Delehanty said. “We encourage anyone who is interested in connecting with our officers and learning more about what they do on a daily basis to apply to take part in this class.”

Residents are asked to drop off or mail a completed application to the Winthrop Police Department, 3 Metcalf Square. Mailed applications should be addressed to the care of Lt. Stephen Rogers. For those who prefer to complete the application virtually, please click here.

Residents will be notified by email if they have been accepted into the class. The class is limited to 20 participants.

The Winthrop Police Department will conduct a background check on applicants to determine their acceptance into the academy.

For more information, please contact Lt. Rogers by emailing srogers@town.winthrop.ma.us or calling 617-846-1212 ext. 2940.

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Winthrop Police and Fire Respond After Recycling Truck Crashes Into Utility Pole

jgprstaff August 8, 2022 Fire, Police

WINTHROP 一 Police Chief Terence M. Delehanty and Fire Chief Scott Wiley report that the Winthrop Police and Fire Departments responded after a recycling truck struck a utility pole this afternoon.

On Monday, Aug. 8, at approximately 1 p.m., Winthrop Police and Fire were dispatched to the area of Foam Street for a report of a single-vehicle crash. Upon arrival, first responders found that a recycling truck had backed into a utility pole, causing the power transformer to fall to the ground.

Due to damage to the transformer, there are power outages on Foam Street and on Siren Street up to the Shirley Street intersection.

The Winthrop Fire Department has opened a cooling center for affected residents at the Robert DeLeo Senior Center, 35 Harvard St.

National Grid is at the scene working to restore power. Power is expected to be restored in three hours.

Foam Street will remain closed while repairs remain ongoing.

No injuries were reported.

The incident remains under investigation by the Winthrop Police Department.

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Winthrop Police Department Shares Information on Town-wide Internet Outage

jgprstaff August 8, 2022August 8, 2022 Emergency Management, Fire, Police

WINTHROP 一 Chief Terence M. Delehanty and the Winthrop Police Department report that Comcast is currently working to restore internet services in Winthrop in response to a town-wide internet outage.

Hundreds of Winthrop residents have been dealing with internet outages since approximately 1 a.m. Monday, Aug. 8, due to damage to fiber lines in Revere.

Comcast is expected to restore internet services sometime Monday afternoon.

Phone services to most Town buildings are down due to the outage. Residents should be aware that the Winthrop Police Department can still be reached at 617-846-1212.

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Winthrop Police Department Welcomes New Officer Upon Academy Graduation

jgprstaff July 1, 2022 Police

WINTHROP 一 Chief Terence M. Delehanty is pleased to announce that the newest member of the Winthrop Police Department has graduated from the Reading Police Academy.

Officer Sean Donahue graduated as part of the academy’s 34th Recruit Officer Course (ROC) on Tuesday, June 28. He began his new position as a full-time officer with the Winthrop Police Department upon graduation from the six-month academy training program.

Officer Donahue is a lifelong resident of Winthrop and a 2013 graduate of Winthrop High School. Prior to working with the Winthrop Police Department, Officer Donahue previously worked as a security officer at Encore Casino in Everett.

Officer Donahue is following in the footsteps of his grandfather, Robert “Doug” Donahue, who was a highly respected Boston Police Detective who retired in 1997.

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Winthrop Police Officer Receives Community Service Award from Massachusetts Association for Women in Law Enforcement

jgprstaff June 27, 2022 Police

WINTHROP — Chief Terence M. Delehanty is proud to share that Winthrop Police Officer Samantha Ferrino was honored recently with a Community Service Award from the Massachusetts Association for Women in Law Enforcement.

Officer Ferrino was presented the award on Thursday, June 16, at an annual training event in Canton.

Lt. Mary Crisafi nominated Officer Ferrino for her commitment to the Town of Winthrop and community members.

Officer Ferrino regularly interacts with the community through the Citizens Police Academy, Youth Police Academy, the Christmas Toy Drive, the Shannon Grant Open Gym Program, and as a court-appointed special advocate.

“Officer Ferrino’s positive impact on the Town of Winthrop cannot be measured. She is a shining example of going above and beyond in service to the community, and is a role model to fellow officers,” Chief Delehanty said. “Congratulations to her on this well-deserved recognition.”

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From left: Officer Jennifer Adamson, Lt. Steve Rogers, Officer Samantha Ferrino, and Lt. Mary Crisafi. (Photo Courtesy Winthrop Police Department)

Winthrop Police Sergeant Recognized Nationally for his Response to Tragic 2021 Incident

jgprstaff May 13, 2022May 14, 2022 Police

Sgt. Nick Bettano, his wife Danielle Bettano and their daughter Sophia Bettano. (Courtesy Photo

From left: Chief Terence Delehanty, Sgt. Nick Bettano and Deputy Chief John Goodwin at the TOP COP Awards on Thursday, May 12. (Courtesy Photo Winthrop Police Department)

WINTHROP — Chief Terence M. Delehanty is pleased to share that a member of the Winthrop Police Department earned national recognition for his efforts in responding to an incident of hate-motivated violence last summer.

Sgt. Nick Bettano earned the Honorable Mention Award from the National Association of Police Organizations for his response to the incident last June 26 in which a suspect crashed a stolen box truck into a vehicle and building before fatally shooting two bystanders. The investigation revealed the suspect may have intended to crash the truck into a synagogue before losing control of the vehicle.

Sgt. Bettano was recognized on Thursday, May 12, at the NAPO’s TOP COPS Awards outside Washington, D.C.

The TOP COPS Awards is an annual event designed to recognize police officers from around the United States for their service on behalf of their communities.

Sgt. Bettano was the first to arrive on scene, after learning en route that the crash he was responding to was in fact an active shooter incident. Upon arrival, a bystander directed 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.

Sgt. Bettano was forced to discharge his own weapon, wounding and ultimately killing the suspect, after the suspect aimed his firearm at Sgt. Bettano.

“This event was a significant tragedy, which impacted our entire community, and Sgt. Bettano’s quick thinking and bravery as the first responder on scene undoubtedly prevented it from becoming an even worse tragedy,” Chief Delehanty. “He is incredibly deserving of this recognition.”

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Winthrop Police Arrest East Boston Man on Drug Charges

jgprstaff April 12, 2022 Police

Winthrop Police working with Boston Police seized narcotics, a firearm and additional materials consistent with use in packaging and distributing narcotics. (Courtesy Photo Winthrop Police Department)

WINTHROP — Chief Terence M. Delehanty reports that the Winthrop Police Department arrested a man last week on drug charges following an extensive investigation.

FRANCIS FORSYTH, JR., AGE 22, of EAST BOSTON, was arrested and charged with:

Trafficking in 36 Grams or More of Fentanyl
Possession of a Class D Drug With Intent to Distribute (Subsequent Offense)

As part of an ongoing investigation, Winthrop Police obtained a search warrant for FORSYTH’S person and residence.

At approximately 11:45 a.m. on Friday, April 8, Winthrop Police and Boston Police conducting surveillance at FORSYTH’S home on Bennington Street in East Boston observed FORSYTH exit the home with another man and enter a red Chrysler Town and Country, which Boston Police subsequently stopped a short distance from the home.

FORSYTH was taken into custody without incident while members of the Winthrop Police Department conducted a search of his residence, which yielded more than 84 grams of marijuana, just under 80 grams of fentanyl, cash, and a variety of items consistent with the packaging and sale of narcotics.

These are allegations. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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Author: jgprstaff