Restraining orders processing
Last week’s incident involving the delivery of a restraining order that resulted in a woman shot in the head and the boyfriend committing suicide, prompted me to look into how that system works.
When will Lantigua end being the elephant in the room?
Last Saturday and again on Tuesday on my radio show CrossOver, I explained my findings regarding the process by which restraining orders are handled. On Wednesday morning, Lou Blasi twisted my intentions saying that it is all political and my desire to attack Mayor Dan Rivera. He further said that if the information came from a Lantigua supporter, of course it will be biased.
When are we going to focus on the problems and stop looking for scapegoats? I made a very clear description of how restraining orders are processed beginning with the system established by Sergeant Melix Bonilla years ago. Perhaps the mere mention of his name was sufficient for certain people to block the rest of the information from their ears but he created a system of expediency and accuracy.
That duty was later given to Abel Cano upon his transfer from Methuen Police. The way Officer Cano’s work was described to me was as “thorough” following the steps set forth by Sgt. Bonilla. He would search, visit homes and places of employment, made telephone calls to find the individuals and deliver the court order.
I was told the story of one man who could not be found until he got a tip that he was in the Virgin Islands. Officer Cano contacted the U.S. Marshall, faxed the document and the man was properly served. That’s being responsible!
Then, Alan Laird was assigned to it. Officer Laird decided to change the system by delivering the restraining orders only on Tuesdays and Thursdays. He would take his time entering them into the system and then delivering them after 5 PM with the excuse that people are not usually home during the daytime.
The system Laird used is still a mystery. There is no way to know how or when the orders are tracked. There is no way the department or any other officer can check on pending service or locate orders awaiting service to serve. The fact is, if there was a glitch, Laird should have picked up on it.
I placed the responsibility on Police Chief James Fitzpatrick for allowing an officer to make his own schedule and not keeping better track of the delivery of the restraining orders. Yes, the mayor and the chief are blaming technology in order to hide the real failure – the police department.
No way to track, no procedure, no oversight, no communication, and NO EXCUSE. The fact of the matter is the restraining order could not nor would have saved anyone’s life. The issue that this unfortunate tragedy has brought to light, however, is the negligence of the department with regard to restraining orders.
What that has to do with politics or my “dislike for the mayor” as he called it?
If you took the time to read the entire piece, you would understand that this is about the police department and the people who depend of them for their safety and security with confidence.
Ecuador earthquake
I have been trying to bring you information on the best way to help the earthquake victims of Ecuador and it has been like pulling teeth. Nobody seems to know what is being done to send aid although I heard an account had been created with Bank of America. I wanted to provide you with that number because money is the most efficient way to help and the local effort was centered in collecting can goods, non-perishables and water.
Those things are very expensive to ship, taking months to arrive, but the worst part is the amount of useless items people donate in time of a disaster. Two weeks ago, 60 Minutes on CBS had a segment with an international relief organization showing the mountains of donations that could not be sorted out for distribution. Many can goods had expired dates and the clothing sometimes included ice skates, winter coats that were sent to tropical countries and ointment for winter chapped lips to Africa.
People clean their closets and pantries feeling good for having shared with the needy. After the tsunami hit the Indian Ocean in 2004, the piles of donations had to be set on fire because they were useless to the residents of the area.
Money is the best way to help. Cash contributions to the American Red Cross are dedicated to a particular cause or a separate bank account where responsible individuals will see it go to satisfy the basic needs of the victims.
During the weekend of April 30th WCAC 1490 AM held a radiothon to raise funds to send home. On Monday, May 2nd I received a message from Luis Landivar, president of the Ecuadorian Club telling me they had not had a radiothon as yet. I am sorry but, if they have no idea what’s being done, my job informing you is impossible to do.
Pacific Mills contamination
A couple of weeks ago I explained the situation with Pacific Mills, 300 Canal St., Lawrence and the contaminated debris that was transported from Manchester, New Hampshire to be buried in the basement of that building. There was publicity for two or three days and then, the topic was dead in the media.
Pacific Mills is being converted into apartments where families and small children will inhabit running the risk of ingesting dangerous chemicals. That building is owned by Brady Sullivan, an investor who renovates buildings in New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. The Manchester property he renovated is Mills West. The violations during the renovations of this building were so many that prompted state and federal authorities to investigate and fine Mr. Sullivan and he was ordered to clean up hazardous lead dust from dozens of apartments in Mill West. The rents in his apartments range from $1,200 to $2,550 monthly.
Twenty-two tenants have filed a lawsuit against Brady Sullivan and a petition with over 20,000 signatures was sent to Washington, D.C. calling for Environmental Agencies to Protect Families Exposed to Dangerously High Lead Levels. Today, the City of Manchester, federal regulators from the EPA and OSHA, and the state’s Department of Health and Human Services are looking into it because Mill West is considered the biggest known lead hazard in recent New England history.
We cannot continue to allow this abuse against our community and our families. It is time to ask MassDEP, EPA, OSHA, and the state’s Department of Health and Human Services to come, inspect and approve ALL the buildings Mayor Rivera announced last month that will be converted into housing to make sure these old mill buildings are free from toxic materials.
