Maldden alld a Vol. 31, No. 12 den AADD -FREEMalden's only local news source for over 30 years! CTE OCAT AT www.advocatenews.net Published Every Friday 617-387-2200 "It was phenomenal, no othT here is an entire, vast segment of the television and fi lm industry that is devoted to re-creating stories and accounts from public safety and law enforcement. But there are few cases or investigations that are addressed, looked into and solved in one or two hours on the small or big screen — as they are on a nightly basis, on police shows or movies. What is not squeezed into those accounts are the real-life details — the "nitty gritty" of police life — on the job. A group of Malden High School 11th and 12th graders got a true helping of authentic, real-life information on policing and public safety from a community service lens recently when a Malden Police Department Lieutenant and Sergeant delivered a compelling presentation. MHS social studies educaSERIOUS TALK: As Malden Police Detective Mike Powell looks on at left, Police Sgt. Rob O'Brien, who is also the Malden Public Schools Resource Offi cer, speaks to a MHS students recently. (Advocate Photo) tor Richard Tivnan hosted the MPD offi cers during his Examining Criminal Justice class. He said he expected his students to receive a valuable experience hearing from the offi cers, Lt. Michael Powell and Sgt. Rob O'Brien, but that the presentation exceeded anything he had anticipated. Black History Month inspires Malden High School students, staff for theme-based decorating contest Competition was part of month-long, observance of important cultural event By Steve Freker M alden High School was full of colorful, informative displays representing many diff erent themes during Black History Month, in a local glimpse of a national observance. One of the most popular parts of Black History Month returned to MHS following a two-year absence due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The members of the MHS Black Culture Club, under the direction of advisors and staff members Kristy Magras and Michel-Le Meranda, this year brought back the Door Decorating Contest, where they creatively decorated classroom and offi ce doors with theme-based art. The themes were all related to Black History Month. Last week, the Door Decorating Contest was held and a winner was selected after an extensive tour of the school by a trio of "celebrity judges". Leading the tour was Malden High School principal Chris Mastrangelo. Joining him was Malden Mayor and School Committee chairman Gary Christenson and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Ligia Noriega-Murphy. About 20 doors were decoratCONTEST | SEE PAGE 5 er way to express it," said Tivnan, who has spent nearly 20 years in the Malden Public Schools. "It was just a great presentation and the students really got into the subject matter the offi cers were sharing. It was just a great day for our class. "To get so much fi rst-hand information, right from the source, was so valuable to these students," Tivnan added. For Lt. Powell, who is a 14year Malden Police veteran and longtime detective, his appearance was mutually benefi cial. "All of us at the Malden Police Department really enjoy interacting with young people and we are always looking for ways we can do that," Lt. Powell said. "This was another great opportunity for us to meet some Malden kids and talk about policing and service in our community." Lt. Powell said information-sharing is a two-way street. "We like the interaction because we are also very interested in hearing what our young people have to say and to let them know their opinions, perceptions and just what's on their minds, is very important to us," Lt. Powell. Sgt. O'Brien is into his fourth month as a full-time Resource Officer in the Malden Public Schools. He is districtwide, along E Friday, March 25, 2022 First-hand accounts enhance learning for MHS Law Class students Malden Police Lt. Powell, Sgt. O'Brien provide informative presentation for MHS students By Steve Freker with colleague Ptl. Trent Headley, and, like Lt. Powell, stressed the value of direct interaction with young people. "In my position now, I interact with students in the schools every day and it has been a great experience," Sgt. O'Brien said. "It was great to be able to go into a classroom and see what students in this specific class on Criminal Justice had on their minds" Sgt. O'Brien said. Both officers told the class of 23 students of their backgrounds. Lt. Powell himself is a Malden High School graduate from the decade of the 1990s. He is a 14-year veteran of the Malden PD and in addition to his duties in the Detectives Division; he serves as MPD's fi rst Civil Rights Offi cer. If a case or a complaint has a civil rights element to it, Lt. Powell becomes the lead investigator charged with resolving the issue. Earlier in his career, Lt. Powell worked on many undercover cases on loan to the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF). He described several memorable cases to the students, of cases where he made "buys" of illicit fi rearms and/or drugs in the course of investigations, eliciting a slew of questions from students on LEARNING | SEE PAGE 9 AND THE WINNER IS! — Mayor Gary Christenson, center, Supt. Dr. Ligia Noriega-Murphy, right and Malden High Principal Chris Mastrangelo, left, show off the winner of the MHS Black History Month Door Decorating Contest, "Black is Beautiful," outside Michel-Le Meranda's room, B431. (Advocate Photo)
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