← City Council · 2021-05-03 · City Council Regular Meeting
RES-20-21-2 : A Resolution in Recognition of Police Week
Agenda original PDF
Minutes original PDF
RES-2021-2 Resolution A Resolution in Recognition of Police Week City of Melrose Page 2 8/26/2021 4:32 PM
Transcript
▶ 13:56 Speaker 6: Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Have a good night.
▶ 13:58 Speaker 4: You too do we have, um.
▶ 14:06 Speaker 2: Chief Lyle coming in now.
▶ 14:12 Shawn M. MacMaster: Counselor master yes, Mr. president at this time. I'll be seeking immediate consideration on Madam clerk. You can help me with the order number. I don't have it in front of me.
▶ 14:21 Speaker 2: Resolution 2021-2, a resolution in recognition of Police Week.
▶ 14:33 Speaker 8: Councillor McMaster. Thank you, Mr. President.
▶ 14:36 Shawn M. MacMaster: Each year that I've been on the Council, going back to 2018, I have filed a resolution to commemorate Police Week.
▶ 14:41 Shawn M. MacMaster: At first, it was as a co-sponsor to my friend and former colleague Alderman Jennifer Lemmerman. After her departure from elective office, I carried on the torch to ensure that we honor and remember the police officers, sheriff deputies, and federal agents who have been killed in the line of duty each year, especially those from Melrose
▶ 15:02 Speaker 9: or who have a connection to Melrose.
▶ 15:05 Shawn M. MacMaster: Two weeks ago marked the eight year anniversary of Officer Sean Collier's murder. As you probably know, Officer Collier was the brother
▶ 15:13 Speaker 3: of Alderman Lemmerman.
▶ 15:15 Shawn M. MacMaster: His senseless murder is fresh on my mind each year as we commemorate police week. And a reminder of a time when our community was united together. This year I admit that there is a lot more in my mind that would be easier not to say, but I believe that I have an obligation to publicly state how I fail because my failings cannot in good faith be disassociated from the matter before us tonight. And that begins with acknowledging that there is a dark cloud hanging over this country, a cloud that requires the law enforcement community as a whole to do a serious self-assessment and requires all of us to
▶ 15:54 Shawn M. MacMaster: recognize that the black community is hurting and rightfully so. I think it's fitting that it was
▶ 16:00 Shawn M. MacMaster: President Kennedy who designated police week in 1963 with a national proclamation. That too is
▶ 16:07 Shawn M. MacMaster: a difficult and turbulent time in the United States, eerily similar to what the nation is
▶ 16:15 Shawn M. MacMaster: going through today. Our state's favorite son knew the importance of conversation and of unity. In a nationally televised speech on June 11, 1963, he said, those who do nothing are inviting shame as well as violence, while those who act boldly are recognizing right as well as reality.
▶ 16:40 Shawn M. MacMaster: we can all be allies of the men and women who take that oath to protect us and at the same time be honest enough to recognize the stark realities before us in this country that necessitate the urgency for change when it needs to occur and to be willing to speak the truth
▶ 16:57 Shawn M. MacMaster: when it needs to be heard i think we can all draw inspiration and motivation from president kennedy's words to act boldly our consul has thought to do that in response to other important issues and our police officers certainly do that every day in the face of potential danger and it's for this reason that i present this resolution without reservation mr president i'll proceed with the reading of the resolution at this time
▶ 17:22 Shawn M. MacMaster: whereas in 1962 president john f kennedy signed a proclamation designating may 15th as peace Office's Memorial Day and the week in which that date falls is Police Week in order to recognize the service and sacrifice of U.S. law enforcement and pay tribute to those who have lost their lives in the line of duty. And whereas 394 names are being added to the National Law Enforcement Office's Memorial this spring of officers who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty
▶ 17:54 Shawn M. MacMaster: in 2020 and in late 2019, and whereas 22,611 names are part of the memorial, including those of Melrose Police Officer Joseph Martin, Melrose native and University of Colorado Police Officer Garrett Swayze, and MIT Police Officer Sean Collier, the brother of former Melrose Alderman
▶ 18:13 Shawn M. MacMaster: and Board of Aldermen President Jennifer Lemmerman. And whereas the Melrose City Council honors the sacrifice of Officer Martin, Officer Swayze, Officer Collier, and Melrose Crossing Guard Mary Foley, and commends all of those who risk their lives while serving the residents of Melrose in order to protect our safety and welfare. And whereas the Melrose Police Department is comprised of 49 sworn officers, two parking enforcement workers, and two civilian employees, and whereas the COVID-19 pandemic has placed additional demands on the Melrose Police Department and exposed its members to a novel virus at great personal risk. And whereas each and every day our police officers risk their personal safety for the health and welfare of the general public. And whereas the Melrose City Council expresses our sincere appreciation to the men and women of the Melrose Police Department for their service and sacrifice on behalf of the City of Melrose. Be it resolved we the members of the Melrose City Council do hereby recognize Police Week in the City of Melrose and publicly salute the men and women who have committed their lives to public safety in our community and in recognition hereof be a further result that on this third day of may in the year 2021 a copy of this resolution be
▶ 19:25 Shawn M. MacMaster: spread upon the records of the melrose city council at this time mr president i'd welcome
▶ 19:35 Speaker 10: chief lyle to make a few remarks good evening everyone sean uh excuse me counselor big master I can't thank you personally and professionally what you just stated. It's been a very difficult year for law enforcement in our community. And I will say this during the pandemic. I couldn't tell you how many families, kids, parents, neighbors, bringing different gifts to the police department. Day in and day out was very touching for everybody at the Arnold's Police Department. And I want to thank you all very much for recognizing Law Enforcement Week.
▶ 20:09 Paul Brodeur: Thank you, Mr. President. I agree with certainly with what the chief said and what council McMaster has stated. We, we all have a responsibility as a community. As public servants to confront the challenges that that face the country. And face and face in certain circumstances, like a racial reckoning. And, you know, with candor and empathy and honesty, I think we'll be able to do that. And I. Believe that our, our Norris police department. Can lead in that respect and I'm looking forward to. Uh, to the, the hard, but important work ahead and, uh, I want to thank council McMaster again for for. Um, so carefully putting together that that resolution and for his comments this evening.
▶ 21:05 Christopher Cinella: Thank you member or any other councillors wishing to speak.
▶ 21:12 Shawn M. MacMaster: Seeing none. Mr. President, if none of my colleagues wish to say anything, I would make a motion at this time to place on file.
▶ 21:20 Christopher Cinella: Motion to place on file made by Councillor McMaster, seconded by Councillor McNaught. Discussion? Seeing none. Madam Clerk, please call the roll.
▶ 21:30 Speaker 1: Councillor Eccles. Yes. Councilor Garipay? Yes. Councilor Grigoraitis? Yes.
▶ 21:42 Speaker 1: Councilor McMaster? Yes. Councilor McNaught? Yes. Councilor Migliorelli? Yes. Councilor Stewart? Yes. Councilor Thomas? Yes. Councilor Tramontozzi? Yes.
▶ 21:56 Speaker 2: President Sinaloa? Yes. 10 yes.