THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, OCTObER 4, 2024 Page 15 STRONG | FROM PAGE 1 increased patrols and a presence in schools and parks to acquiring new fi rearms and working towards accreditation – at their meeting on Monday, September 23. Chief Strong was appointed and sworn in as the new Police Chief at the City Council meeting on Monday, June 10. He feels things have been going well since then. “I have a good team and command staff around me,” he said. “You don’t want to make too many changes too quickly, not that I’ve had to make many changes. The department is a well-oiled machine.” Changes that have been made might better be described as adjustments. For instance, summer directed patrols in parks and the number of School Resource Officers (SROs) has increased. “There are five SROs based at Everett High School that also visit other schools,” Strong reported. “We’ve developed a good working relationship with the School Department. They take turns and go into other schools.” Some of the SROs participated in patrolling parks over the summer. As a result, they got to know the same kids they’re seeing in the schools. “We started in the spring and continued over the summer, which is probably the reason we had a quite summer, one of the quietest summers we’ve had in a few years,” Strong explained. “We have a robust SROs program. They’re very proactive in getting to know the students. In the summer they joined direction patrols. The kids know them.” Ward 6 Councillor Peter Pietrantonio asked about parents parking near schools well before dismissal to pick up children. “I’ve gotten e-mails about this,” he said. “People don’t think people that live near schools have jobs. I know it’s tough, but is there anything that can be done?” “We try to do our best in dealing with parents,” Strong answered. “When it gets out of hand we ticket,” but he also suggested some educational outreach to the community might help. He also said traffi c enforcement has been stepped up in the last three months. A problem like too many parents waiting outside a school, a traffi c jam or accident or other non-emergency situation the police may not be aware of might be one of the things citizens can report to the police through a new e-alert system, also called See Say. “It’s another tool for people to report problems if they don’t want to call 911 or the Police Department,” Strong said. “You can text or send a photo, but you have to download an app. It goes directly to the console of the Police Department, but there’s no tracking of phones. We’ll do a push so people can sign up.” The console dispatch team is switching to a new web-based system that will facilitate multitasking. Another effort at outreach and visibility with the public is increased use of a Facebook page. “We’ll put out as much information as we can,” Strong said. Another eff ort at outreach is availability of police log information to the public. “I log in every day,” Councillor-at-Large Stephanie Smith said. “Parents were concerned with why police were in the parks, but I can tell them it’s what they do every day.” “I love the eff orts to achieve transparency,” Ward 2 Councillor Stephanie Martins added. “Now people can go online and see what kind of calls the police are getting.” Strong also reported that he added fi ve offi cers to the Department’s Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team, for which the Boston police provide free training. The department received a new set of 9 mm fi rearms to replace 45 caliber fi rearms. “We had them for 10 years so it was time we got new fi rearms,” Strong said. They’re also getting new frontline vehicles and administrative cars and are switching to hybrid cars for fuel effi - ciency to increase car mileage. Strong also reported patrol officers and detectives being more proactive on cases involving scams, in one of which a veteran was recently scammed out of money, in weapons seizures and in dealing with drug cases. Activity has involved undercover stings or trips to other communities to track drug dealers. Strong is also instituting a management plan to fi ll vacancies as a result of retirements or offi cers moving out of the department. All these elements dovetail with a larger eff ort to receive accreditation from the state Police Accreditation Commission. It’s not unlike school accreditation from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges or the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. “When a police department is accredited, it means our policies and methods of how things are handled are in-line with state standards,” Strong explained. “It includes our evidence fi ling system. We want to get all our policies and procedures in one place, nice and straight so when CITY OF EVERETT - LEGAL NOTICE - BOARD OF APPEALS 484 BROADWAY, ROOM 24 EVERETT, MASSACHUSETTS 02149 To Whom It May Concern: This notice is to inform you that a public hearing will be held on Monday October 21, 2024 at 6:00 PM, Everett City Hall, 3rd Floor George Keverian Hearing Room. All interested parties may attend and opinions will be heard regarding the following petition. Whereas a petition has been presented by: Property Address: Map/Parcel: Property Owner: 43-R Tappan Street Everett, MA 02149 C0-02-000118 Scott Dalrymple 43-R Tappan Street Everett, MA 02149 PROPOSAL: The applicant seeks to construct a 9’ x 20’ addition on the side of the existing structure with a roof deck and a 20’ x 6’ covered porch in the front. Reason for Denial: Permit was denied in accordance with the City of Everett Zoning Ordinance as follows: The existing structure is a non-conforming structure in that it does not have the proper front yard or side yard. Section 3 General Requirements paragraph C which states the following: Existing non-conforming structure or uses may be extended or altered, provided that such extension, alteration or change of use shall be permitted only upon the grant of a Special Permit by the zoning board of appeals after a public hearing and a finding by the board that such extension, alteration or change of use shall not be substantially more detrimental to the neighborhood than the existing non-conforming use or structure. (Ord. of 4-29-91) Rebecca Edmondson Korem - Chairman Roberta Suppa - Clerk of Board of Appeals October 04, 11, 2024 someone looks at things, everything is right there. A benefi t is more practical risk management, which reduces liability claims and it improves the delivery of law enforcement services to the community.” The Police Department has 119 offi cers, which will be increased to 123 shortly. Many people feel they need a new station. “You are due for a new building,” Pietrantonio said. “The current building scares me.” “If it happens it happens, but I don’t think the station is that bad and some improvements have been made,” Strong feels. “It depends on the City’s priority list.” He feels the same way about having a new satellite station, possibly being shared with the Fire Department, near the casino. Martins suggested, “Until we have a new station, please try to continue to improve the station and facilities for female offi - cers. Whatever needs love, we’re counting on you.” “Of course,” Strong answered.
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