Black and Brown and Blue
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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 2020 Swampscott postpones Lynn English principal Civil Service article won’t return next year By David McLellan ments were removed from Civil Service, By Gayla Cawley of the month. ITEM STAFF Swampscott would no longer be bound ITEM STAFF Tutwiler has appointed by Civil Service rules, which restrict the an acting principal, Tes- SWAMPSCOTT — A controversial town to either hiring chiefs from within LYNN — Lynn English sie Mower, who currently Town Meeting article asking Swampscott its current police and re ranks, or hir- High School Principal serves as vice principal to remove its police and re chiefs from ing sitting chiefs in other communities. Thomas Strangie will not at Lynn Classical, for the the state’s “Civil Service” system has Proponents of the change point to the return to his current posi- 2020-21 school year and been put off until the next Town Meeting. fact that the town would have a larger tion next school year. the search for a perma- Massachusetts Civil Service is a sys- applicant pool — up to 75 applicants Superintendent Dr. Pat- nent principal will begin tem administered by the state’s Human compared to just three or four — when rick Tutwiler said there in the spring of 2021. Resources Division that handles the hiring police and re chiefs, while oppo- will be a change in leader- Mower’s appointment is testing of job applicants and employees nents of leaving Civil Service claim the ship at Lynn English, the effective July 1. seeking promotion in towns that use the system protects against nepotism be- district’s largest school. “English High is the system. In Swampscott’s case, both the cause it is run by the state. All principal contracts largest school in the Lynn Police and Fire departments use “Civil for the Lynn Public School Service.” If the chiefs of those depart- SWAMPSCOTT, A2 Thomas Strangie schools expire at the end ENGLISH, A2 Saugus swears in BLACK AND BROWN new police chief By Elyse Carmosino ITEM STAFF SAUGUS — Michael Ricciardel- li was sworn in Monday as Sau- gus’ new Chief of Police. Town Manager Scott Crabtree announced the appointment ear- lier the same day. “It is an honor and a privilege to appoint Chief Michael Ricciardelli to the role of Saugus Police Chief,” he said in a statement. “Michael possesses leadership qualities and is motivated to effectuate change, both organizationally and within the culture, with the goal of moving the department in the direction of providing and deliv- ering improved public safety and services to the residents of Sau- gus.” Ricciardelli — who was deter- mined by the public safety con- sulting rm BadgeQuest to be the best t for the position — will be taking the place of Ronald Gior- AND BLUE getti, who served as interim Po- lice Chief since Chief Domenic DiMella’s departure in 2018. Cops of color also experience racial biases In his statement, Crabtree said Ricciardelli was chosen after an By David McLellan please introduce yourselves. From left, Lynn Police “extensive” selection process, ITEM STAFF Wright: My name is Oren Wright with the Of cer Oren Wright, which was “conducted in order to Lynn Police Department. I’ve been a police MBTA Transit Police LYNN — Amid global conversations and select the most highly-quali ed of cer for going on 24 years. I’m currently Chief Kenneth Green, protests over racial violence, inequity, and the individual to perform all the du- assigned as the school security and emer- Swampscott Police role of policing, The Item invited four law en- ties required of a police chief in gency planning liaison with the Lynn Public Of cer Joel Pimen- forcement of cers — three African-American Saugus.” Schools. tel and Lynn Police and one Hispanic — to share their unique per- The process is meant to identify Green: Hi, my name is Ken Green. I am Of cer Mark Williams the individual who has the man- spectives on race relations and the current cli- a proud product of Lynn, I went to Lynn mate. Lynn Police Of cer Oren Wright, MBTA sit down for a con- agement style and values that are Public Schools, I’m the chief of the MBTA versation at the The most compatible with the needs Transit Police Chief Ken Green, Swampscott Transit Police Department. I’ve been a po- Police Of cer Joel Pimentel, and Lynn Police Item of ce on Monday of the community and the depart- lice of cer now for 37 years, chief of police afternoon to discuss Of cer Mark Williams spent the better part of for ve and a half years. ment, he said. being a person of Ricciardelli himself is a 25-year an hour in conversation. Pimentel: I’m Of cer Joel Pimentel, This conversation has been video recorded Swampscott Police Department. I too am a color in today’s law veteran of the Saugus Police De- enforcement industry. partment. He served eight years and is available on The Item’s website, www. product of Lynn, downtown Lynn. I went to itemlive.com. The moderator was Carolina Lynn English, I’ve been a police of cer now as a lieutenant, two years as a ITEM PHOTO | OLIVIA FALCIGNO sergeant, and 15 years as a patrol Trujillo, director of community relations for for two and a half years, I spent two years of cer prior to his appointment as Essex Media Group (EMG), which publish- with Transit Police, and I’ve now been with Police Chief. es The Item, and publisher of EMG’s Span- Swampscott for about six months. A member of the Honor Guard ish-language newspaper, La Voz. Williams: I’m Of cer Mark Williams. I Trujillo: Welcome, thank you for accept- and Special Operations Unit, Ric- BIASES, A3 ciardelli is currently an instructor ing our invitation, and if you don’t mind, SAUGUS, A5 Opinion Don’t act like the Nahant candidate, down by pandemic is over. A4 Fight election 3 votes, may ask for recount cyber attacks. A4 By Elyse Carmosino vote. “I can’t say I expected it to be the COVID-19 ITEM STAFF closest in history.” Additional He said he plans to deliver a formal virus cases reported NAHANT — After losing by a mere letter to the town clerk Thursday, add- in Lynn, Revere. A5 three votes to competitor Eugene ing that although he normally would Sports Canty, Board of Selectmen candidate not have considered petitioning for a re- David Walsh said he is considering Ingemi, Godfrey honored count, he felt the election’s unprecedent- as Moynihan Lumber asking for a recount following Nah- ed outcome warranted a second look. Student-Athletes ant’s town election Saturday. “When it’s three (votes) and you’re us- of the Year. B1 “I gured it would be a close race, ing a system that isn’t 100 percent per- not just because of the Northeastern fect, there are certainly possibilities the ITEM PHOTO | OLIVIA FALCIGNO Shriners All-Star University issue, but there are oth- count could change,” Walsh said. Classic to go virtual er issues in town that need to be ad- Eugene Canty is sworn in as Nahant’s newest se- for 2020 game. B1 dressed,” Walsh said of the 657 to 654 NAHANT, A2 lectman Tuesday night at Nahant Town Hall. OBITUARIES ..............................A2 LOOK! .......................................A8 DIVERSIONS .............................B5 HIGH 82° VOL. 141, ISSUE 164 OPINION ...................................A4 SPORTS ................................ B1-2 CLASSIFIED ...............................B6 LOW 64° POLICE/FIRE .............................A5 COMICS ....................................B4 FOOD ........................................B8 PAGE A8 $1.50 A2 THE DAILY ITEM WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 2020 OBITUARIES Swampscott postpones Civil Service article Edith F. Blodgett, 85 SWAMPSCOTT cle off until the next Town mately be best in future “We want the town to be From A1 Meeting, which will likely police and re chief hir- aware of this rushed vote be in September. ings. and to be aware that this PEABODY — Edith F. (Cun- The article received sup- Among those in favor “It goes beyond diversity, change is not welcomed ningham) Blodgett, 85, died port from both Police Chief of the article was Town it is about making sure we by the Swampscott re- Sunday, June 21, 2020 at the Ron Madigan and Fire Administrator Sean Fitz- have a pool of applicants ghters on the basis that Brudnick Center of Living in Chief Graham Archer, who gerald, who praised the that represent the best it will cost the town more Peabody. both said the town would proposed move as allow- and brightest for Swamp- money, change the com- Born and raised in Ipswich, have more candidates to ing an “open and inclu- scott,” Spellios. munity-oriented culture, she was the daughter of choose from without Civ- sive process” when hiring The study committee it will discourage and op- the late James E. and Edith il Service when hiring its town police and re chiefs. proposed by Spellios in- pose veterans coming out (O’Connell) Cunningham. She next chiefs. Neither chief Fitzgerald said leaving cludes ve voting members of service looking for em- received her education in the has made an announce- Civil Service would not composed of one member ployment, and lead to po- Ipswich school system and ment about retirement, only broaden the pool of jointly appointed by the tential nepotism.” graduated from Ipswich High but Madigan is set to applicants for the chief police and re unions, one The union pointed out School. She continued her ed- reach the state-mandated positions, but would “elim- member appointed by the that the move away from ucation at North Shore Com- retirement age of 65 next inate potential bias” and Select Board, and three Civil Service would mean munity College and the Lynn year.