THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 2022 Page 9 ASKS | FROM PAGE 8 ners 20-plus years out of my career. He and I were in the drug unit. We both worked with the FBI Boston Crimes Violent Task Force together. For two different departments, Bob and I have been on the longest. I joined the Police Department in February of 1990. I started with the former Saugus chief, Domenic DiMella, and Len Campanello, who had been police chief in Gloucester. I started with them. They moved up in rank, and I stayed a detective by choice. I decided not to take the exams. I went on to see the entire gamut of law enforcement, from local to state to federal, and I got to work with a lot of different people, both young and old. And as I look back on my career, I have no regrets. Q: What was the most difficult, challenging aspect of your job? Did you have to do the death notifi cations? A: As a detective, you have to respond to sudden deaths, car accidents, somebody who had been shot or stabbed, overdosed. Sometimes it’s a young person. And you’ve got to go and knock on somebody’s door and pass that information on that one of their loved ones has just passed or overdosed or is in the hospital and severely injured. That’s passing on bad news, and unfortunately, in our fi eld, over the years, whether it’s natural causes, accidents or suicides or drugs, it’s tough. You have to compartmentalize it. If you don’t have an outlet, it can eat you up, so that’s when it’s good to talk to family, coworkers or whatever. We have to do that. If not, it can take you to a dark side. Q: The more you do it, you get good at it and develop a sensitive ear. But it doesn’t get any easier, does it? APPRECIATION FROM SAUGUS: The Saugus Police Department recognized James Donovan “For 32 Years of Dedicated Service.” (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate) A: No. It could be a good person or a bad person. Once I arrested somebody, I just treated them like a human being, and that was the way I always conducted myself, and the same thing with the notifi cations. I always try to treat people with respect. Q: Over the years, you must have worked with Saugus High School on Shadow Day, where you introduce students to your profession and let students tag around with you for part of a day. So, what would you tell students about your job? A: Law enforcement, or being a detective, what would be great about doing this? Q: Yes. So, what would you tell them? A: If you are into helping people, it’s a great job. It’s self-rewarding. You’re basically your own boss when you’re out in that patrol car, and you have huge interactions with people. You can change peoples’ lives daily, for good or bad. You don’t have to be a hard ass all the time. If you are angry about getting caught, don’t get mad at me, because I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for what you did. But it’s a job where you can really help people. Most cops want to do a good job and don’t want to be around bad cops, just like you don’t want to work with bad reporters. I don’t want to work with bad cops. Unfortunately, it’s that small few that give us a bad name. Ninety-nine percent of the cops out there are doing a good job and truly want to help people. Q: Is there anything else that you would like to share about A THANK YOU FROM THE FBI: Retired Saugus Police Detective James Donovan recently received this framed commendation for his 13-plus years of service on the FBI Boston Violent Crimes Task Force. (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate) your career and your challenges? A: I’m very fortunate. I got to be a fi rearms instructor. I got to be a self-defense instructor. Gerry D’Ambrosio Attorney-at-Law Is Your Estate in Order? Do you have an update Will, Health Care Proxy or Power of Attorney? If Not, Please Call for a Free Consultation. 14 Proctor Avenue, Revere (781) 284-5657 I went to the Harley-Davidson School to teach people how to ride motorcycles. ASKS | SEE PAGE 22
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