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Page 8 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, JAnUAry 10, 2025 A look back at Saugus history Police Chief Charles Thompson’s dangerous encounter with a pitchfork-wielding man at the Saugus race Track (Editor’s Note: This is the second in a series of articles by frequent Saugus Advocate contributor Janice K. Jarosz on the town’s first police chief, Charles O. Thompson.) By Janice K. Jarosz I n his Police Report of 1897, Saugus Police Chief Charles O. Thompson notes the following work done by town officers in the line of duty: Complaints received and investigated, 140; doors found open and secured – 34; fires discovered and put out – 2; lights found burning – 10; stray teams found and put ups – 3; lights furnished for dangerous places in streets – 10; windows found open – 15; lost children found and restored – 3. Chief Thompson had many interesting experiences and also several narrow escapes! One of the most remarkable notes about his long career, according to a newspaper account, was that he never found it necessary to strike a prisoner with his police club; although he admitted that there were times when he had to use his fists to prevent himself from being beaten up by those he was arresting. The Chief told a local reporter that the tightest hole he was COOPERATE | FROM PAGE 3 feet or use the landfill up until the spring of 2028. Panetta calls WIN’s way “irresponsible” During the meeting, Board of Selectmen Chair Panetta criticized WIN’s way of dealing with the Ash Landfill Closure Committee. “The prudent thing to do is to sit down with our town leaders and discuss the closure of the landfill, whether that date be two years, five years, 10 years. The closure is imminent. That’s why they’re trucking 50 percent, to keep the landfill opened up lonever in was the day following his acceptance of the position as Chief of Police. At that time, the old Saugus Racetrack was in existence and word was brought to him that a “crazy Swede” was in the stables, had driven everyone out and was holding the stable people at bay with a pitchfork. When the Chief started out alone, he was warned that he ought to take another from the force with him as the “Swede was a big and dangerous man.” The new Chief merely remarked, “If I can’t get him on my own, I will resign as Chief as soon as I get back.” Taking only a pair of handcuffs with him as his only safeguard, he went off to the racetrack. Once there he found this man so angry that he was crying and threatening any person who dared to approach him. In some strange manner, the man recognized the newly appointed Chief, although Thompson was not in uniform. Thereupon, he doubled his threats, yelling out, “I’ll kill you if you come near me!” As the Chief did not care to die until he had drawn at least one week’s pay, he inquired as to the Swede’s first name and was told it was John. “Now John,” said Thompson, “you know better than to do a thing ger,” Panetta said. “I feel that not talking to our town and our representatives is irresponsible. And you’re denying the inevitable,” she said. Panetta suggested that closure of the ash landfill was long overdue, and added that so is the planning. “In life, we always plan for the future, whether it be short term or long term. And I ask, ‘Why are we not planning now?’ We know that the landfill at WIN Waste was supposed to close back in 1996,” Panetta said. “It’s been almost 30 years and we still have no closure plan. They are almost at their 50-feet level. That ’s their maximum. But we just heard SAUGUS’ FIRST POLICE CHIEF: Charles O. Thompson said he never found it necessary to strike a prisoner with his police club, though he admitted there were times when he had to use his fists to keep from being beaten up by those he was arresting. (Courtesy Photo to The Saugus Advocate) like that.” By the chief trying to talk to the man, the Swede eventually dropped the tines of the pitchfork to the ground. This was what the Chief was waiting for, and so with that they are trucking out 50 percent of their ash every single day to Shrewsbury. So, we all know the end is near. That’s why they’re trucking,” she said. Panetta defended the town’s purpose of establishing the Ash Landfill Closure Committee. “They said this is their land and we really have no right to discuss it. I disagree,” Panetta said. “I say that this land is in our community, well past its closure date and discussion. Strategic discussions need to be held now,” she said. “What are they waiting for? Perhaps they’re waiting for another election cycle, and maybe sympathetic people will vote ... sympathetic to a quick leap, he was upon the man and, quicker still, planted his clenched fist in the other’s face, knocking him down to the ground. The Chief jumped upon him and immediateexpansion at the expense of the health and well-being of our town.” Panetta asked Board of Health members to “stand with the Ash Landfill Committee. Help us.” “I see all of these WIN representatives sitting here, proudly with your WIN representative jacket,” she said. “They have hats, they’re all here at a Board of Health meeting. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if just one of you would come to one of our ash landfill committee meetings.” Board of Health Chair Tamagna noted that WIN has made great strides in improving relations with the board simply by attending its meetings on a regular basis. “The ly a terrific fight commenced. Even then, although Thompson shouted for assistance, the bystanders were so terrified at the massiveness and strength of the belligerent “Swede” that they dared not approach. This left the Chief alone to get the handcuffs from his pocket, unlock them and place them on the hands of the culprit. It was a man-size job, but the Chief did it and finally had him handcuffed, hand and foot! On another occasion the Chief came face to face with a burglar who attempted to draw a gun on him. The Chief overpowered him before he could do it. It was learned later that the burglar was a notorious gunman, with a record of many burglaries to answer for. He had previously been shot by the Melrose Police, but had escaped to Saugus with the intention of robbing the Depot. The burglar received a six-year sentence in State Prison. During his 26 years as “Top Gun,” Chief Thompson headed up investigations of two major murder cases in Saugus. First was the John C. Best case at Breakheart Farm in 1901. The second was the Gennette case at Baker Hill in which a woman was stabbed to death. Next week: The Chief’s final days. presence here at our Board of Health meetings has been a blessing – for lack of a better term,” Tamagna said. “It’s opened up great lines of communication between us, the Board of Health and WIN. Transparency is imperative. To work together is the best way,” she said. “We’ve been at odds before – the Board of Health and WIN – and it doesn’t work out. It just doesn’t. We have to cooperate. We have to work together. And that’s the best way. You guys do amazing things for the community and we’ve always been very grateful for that. Nobody wants to be at anybody’s throat. We just want to get it done in a pleasant way.”

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