Public safety and the 10th Suffolk district

As a candidate for state representative in West Roxbury, Roslindale and Brookline, I have had the opportunity to meet several remarkable people in our neighborhood. The 10th boasts a high percentage of active and retired public safety personnel, and I am proud to count many as supporters. As a Massachusetts National Guardsman and a former 911 operator with the Boston Police, I am keenly aware of the importance of public safety.

As our economy continues to stagnate, many public safety programs have been diminished or completely abolished due to budgetary constraints. As a legislator, I will fight to direct funding towards vital public safety initiatives.

In early August, state lawmakers added an amendment to the Municipal Relief Act that allows municipalities and private ambulance companies to cut by half the number of paramedics serving in life support ambulances. Paramedics have more training, can administer drugs and provide other potentially life-saving treatments that EMTs cannot. Lobbyists for ambulance companies, who stand to earn more money from insurance companies, have long been advocating for the change. I will work to address this amendment to ensure that we do not put our residents at risk.

Urban Search and Rescue teams are composed of police, fire and EMS personnel and respond to major disasters. The all-volunteer Massachusetts Task Force 1 is located in Beverly. As a major port city and potential terrorist target, Boston certainly warrants a fully funded Urban Search and Rescue team. The team should be positioned within city limits to rapidly deploy to any contingency in order to immediately render aid. With so many sensitive sites in a small geographic area, such as the Boston University Lab, Boston needs to be prepared. I will petition for federal homeland security funding to establish the team in Boston.

State funding for the Quinn Bill, an educational incentive program for police officers, was substantially reduced from the state budget. In an era when a police officer’s skill set often requires a nuanced approach, an educated officer is essential. We should view the Quinn Bill as an investment, and I will fight to restore full funding.

The Massachusetts State Police are tasked with enormous responsibility over a wide area, and we need to support their efforts. I recommend that we bolster funding for specialized units such as the Disabled Persons Protection Unit, Elder Protection Unit and Crime Scene Services.

I recognize the challenging economic environment in which we find ourselves. However, we need to maintain our focus relative to funding for important public safety programs. As a state Representative for the 10th Suffolk District, I will fight to enhance and improve critical public safety initiatives in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.