THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, JunE 12, 2026 Page 11 Coffee, Conversation, and Community: Everett Police Host Successful First Coffee with a Cop Event T he Everett Police Department, in partnership with Target proudly hosted its first “ Coffee with a Cop “ event . Everett Police Chief Paul Strong, members of the Command Staff, Police Officers Raoul Goncalves and Sandra Rivas, along with Meagan Gokas of Target Loss Prevention, welcomed shoppers with complimentary coffee, snacks, and police giveaways. The event provided an excellent opportunity for community members to meet with police officers, ask questions, and engage in a meaningful conversation in a relaxed setting. Coffee with a Cop is designed to foster open dialogue between law enforcement and the community, helping to build trust, enhance communication, and strengthen partnerships. Chief Paul Strong would like to thank Target, its staff, and everyone who attended for helping make this event a success. Community engagement remains a priority, and we look forward to future opportunities to connect with those we serve. DAN WALL | FROM PAGE 10 sponding officers. Despite those efforts, the suspect continued running through traffic and approached a garbage truck stopped at a red light on Route 99. According to Chief Strong, Detective Wall feared the suspect was about to seriously harm the driver when the suspect opened the driver-side door of the truck. Detective Wall discharged his weapon, striking the suspect multiple times. Despite being shot, the suspect was still able to climb into the truck and struggle with the driver inside the cab. “Seeing this, Detective Wall immediately and without any regard for his own safety and without hesitation jumped up into the cab of the truck and was able to pull the driver to safety,” Chief Strong said during the ceremony. The suspect then drove the garbage truck approximately a half mile before crashing on the Alford Street Bridge, where officers took him into custody. Chief Strong noted that Detective Wall applied a tourniquet to the suspect’s leg to stop severe bleeding following the arrest. Chief Strong spoke not only about Detective Wall’s bravery during the incident, but also about his character afterward, recalling that one of the first questions Wall asked following the ordeal was about the condition of both the victim and the suspect. “That describes exactly the kind of person you are,” Chief Strong said. “Compassionate, thoughtful, kind-hearted and caring.” During the ceremony, Chief Strong recognized Encore Boston Harbor’s Security and Investigations team with the Award of Recognition for the assistance they provided following the incident. Encore staff worked closely with investigators and provided extensive surveillance footage that helped Everett Police track the suspect’s movements, establish the timeline of events and support the ongoing prosecution of the case. Mayor Robert J. Van Campen praised Detective Wall’s actions and the professionalism of the Everett Police Department: “Chief Strong knows that I consistently say with great pride that we have the best trained, best equipped police department in all of Massachusetts. Detective Wall’s act of heroism on the day in question is really just one example — a pretty big example — but one example of what our officers do every single day. This is a big deal.” Mayor Van Campen also reflected on the significance of the Medal of Valor itself: “This honor is reserved for those who demonstrate extraordinary bravery in the face of danger. It reflects not only decisive action, but also a deep commitment to protecting others even at great personal risk. Detective Wall exemplifies everything this award stands for.” The City of Everett congratulates Detective Dan Wall on this well-deserved recognition and thanks him for his continued service to the community.
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