Raynham Police and Fire Departments Report Busy Month of May
Police Chief highlights arrests, community service while Fire Chief announces promotion during monthly reports to Board of Selectmen
RAYNHAM - June 10 - The Raynham Police and Fire Departments presented their monthly activity reports to the Board of Selectmen on Tuesday, highlighting several notable incidents and department updates from May.
Police Chief David LaPlante reported a total of 2,285 calls for the month, including 481 emergency 911 calls and 97 emergency medical dispatch calls. The department made 12 arrests and issued several criminal summonses.
"On May 1, members of the detective unit assisted FBI with the execution of a search warrant on Gatsby Drive which resulted in the arrest and seizure of evidence related to child pornography," LaPlante said.
The chief noted that while the defendant faces federal charges, Raynham officers arrested the individual on one count of possession of child pornography before transferring them to court.
LaPlante also highlighted the apprehension of four juveniles between ages 15 and 17 on May 4 in connection with motor vehicle break-ins throughout town. The midnight shift officers investigated several vehicle break-ins, resulting in all four juveniles being summoned to court on numerous charges.
"I want to commend our officers for their prompt response and thorough investigation," LaPlante said. "This is just another example of the Raynham Police Department's commitment to protecting our community and holding individuals accountable for their actions."
The police department also responded to a garage fire on Anthony Road on May 17. Patrolman Michael Savalli was one of the first responders on [the] scene and attempted to extinguish the fire with an extinguisher from his cruiser. He was later transported to Morton Hospital as a precaution for smoke inhalation but was released and is doing fine.
In another incident on May 29, Raynham officers assisted Lakeville Police in preventing a $20,000 Bitcoin scam. A scammer had convinced a 73-year-old Lakeville woman that her computer was infected with a virus and that she needed to withdraw funds from her account to deposit into a Bitcoin ATM.
"A quick-thinking Lakeville detective believed the woman was likely traveling to Raynham to complete the transaction," LaPlante explained. "Raynham officers quickly began searching for the woman's vehicle at known Bitcoin ATMs in town and were able to locate it, stopping her from depositing the money."
The chief also noted community service activities, including Patrolmen Brian Silver and Zachary Andrew volunteering at the Bridgewater-Raynham Education Foundation's Touch a Truck event on May 17. He also thanked all department employees for their involvement in the Memorial Day parade held on May 24.
Selectman Kenneth Collins praised the department's diverse responsibilities.
"As you were reading these, I couldn't help but think this does a good job of demonstrating all the many hats that police officers wear," Collins said. "Cooperating with the FBI, dealing with juveniles on the overnight shift, mutual aid with fire and Lakeville, and then volunteering in community service."
Chairman Pat Riley thanked the chief and Captain Beatrice for their leadership and all officers who participated in the parade.
Fire Chief Bryan LaCivita reported that his department responded to 87 fire incidents, 211 medical emergencies, motor vehicle crashes, and 122 inspectional service calls in May. The department's total of 307 runs represents an increase of 19 calls compared to the same period last year.
LaCivita announced the promotion of Drew Alexander to Lieutenant. Alexander will take over for Lt. Carr, who retires in August.
"Drew's a good guy and it's a long-standing tradition with the fire department," LaCivita said, noting that Alexander's family has deep ties to the department. "His brother is the Easton Fire Chief. His dad was a lieutenant here, ran the SAFE program, which is when we go into the school, talk to the kids. He did that for a long time, and Drew was filling those shoes quite well."
Selectman Joseph Pacheco congratulated Alexander on his promotion.
"I know, Chief, that you had a lot of qualified applicants, but it speaks volumes to Drew that he was able to secure that promotion," Pacheco said.
Collins also congratulated Alexander and thanked the department for Firefighters Memorial Sunday.
"The memorial ceremony is always very impressive and certainly the awards afterwards and the VIP award going to the American Legion Post 405," Collins said. "As Captain Kelleher pointed out, they do so much for the fire department and for the community."
LaCivita acknowledged that the memorial event "doesn't happen without Captain Kelleher."
The Board of Selectmen unanimously approved a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) increase for call firefighters, raising their pay from $18 per hour to $20 per hour. Town Administrator Gregory Barnes noted that call firefighters had not received an increase since 2019, making this less than a 2 percent annual increase over that period.
The board also unanimously approved filling a firefighter position after receiving a resignation letter from a firefighter who will be relocating out of state for family reasons.
"This position is crucial to the fire department's operational needs," LaCivita wrote in his request to the board.
The Board of Selectmen meets regularly to receive updates from department heads and address town business. The next meeting is scheduled for June 24.
Watch the complete meeting courtesy of The Raynham Channel.
This article was generated with artificial intelligence. Please contact us with any accuracy concerns.