Gobi testifies in support of bills honoring dedicated civil servants
GOBI
Quabbin Visitors Center. Legislation offered by Sen. Anne Gobi and co-sponsored by Rep. Susannah Whipps (I-Athol), S.544, would designate the Quabbin Visitor Center in Belchertown as the Les and Terry Campbell Quabbin Visitors Center. File photo
Staff Report
Modified: 5/6/2021 1:41:10 PM
BOSTON Sen. Anne Gobi (D-Spencer), former chair of the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources, and Agriculture, testified Tuesday before the committee on a pair of bills she has sponsored this session aimed at honoring individuals who dedicated their lives through service to the Commonwealth.
Gobi had this to say on her testimony, “I was glad to offer my support for the passage of these bills. Les and Terry Campbell and Detective John Songy made a positive difference in Massachusetts and being able to honor them in a tangible way is something we should do.”
Norton Police Detective Sgt. Stephen Desfosses dies of COVID, department announces
Updated Jan 13, 2021;
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The Norton Police Department on Wednesday announced that one of its officers, Detective Sgt. Stephen Desfosses, has died of COVID-19.
Desfosses, who served with the department for more than 30 years, was surrounded by family when he passed, Norton police wrote in a Facebook post.
“He was a loyal, trusted and dedicated member of this department holding many positions including Detective Division Commander, shift supervisor, training officer and he commanded the award-winning Norton Police Honor Guard,” the statement said.
The department asked people to remember Desfosses and to keep his family in their thoughts and prayers.
COVID vaccine rollout: First responders in Massachusetts to start getting vaccinated Monday
Updated Jan 11, 2021;
Posted Jan 11, 2021
Firefighters in Quincy, Massachusetts were among the first first responders in the state to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. As the officials look to roll out more doses of the vaccine, though, many police officers and firefighter say they don t plan on getting vaccinated. (Friends of Quincy Firefighters IAFF Local 792)
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Hundreds of first responders in Massachusetts are expected to start receiving doses of the coronavirus vaccine Monday as part of the state’s phased rollout of the immunization.
Gov. Charlie Baker announced last week that more than 45,000 police officers, firefighters, emergency medical personnel and other first responders in Massachusetts would be eligible for the first dose of the vaccine beginning Jan. 11.
‘You couldn’t pay me to take it’: As COVID vaccine rolls out for Massachusetts first responders, some police, fire departments split on taking it
Updated Jan 02, 2021;
With Massachusetts first responders standing next in line to receive the coronavirus vaccine, the Auburn Police Department, like many law enforcement agencies across the state, surveyed its officers earlier this month to see how many plan to get vaccinated for the viral respiratory infection.
The results were compelling. Fewer than half the members of the department, 29 officers, said they plan to get vaccinated, while 31 answered they do not, with the town’s chief of police among those opting out of getting immunized.