Swansea Police

Today marks 20 years since the line-of-duty death of Swansea Police Lt. Robert “Officer Bob” Cabral.

With Halloween approaching, it is important to consider the potential hazards the holiday brings for participants of all ages.

Children should be dressed appropriately for the weather and wear reflective attire or carry flashlights to ensure they can be seen in the dark. Young trick-or-treaters should always be accompanied by an adult. Older children should be reminded of how to trick-or-treat safely, and should use the “buddy system” to make sure no one walks alone.

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Today, on National First Responders Day, we pause to honor the bravery and sacrifice of police officers, firefighters, paramedics, EMTs, and 911 dispatchers.

These dedicated professionals put their lives on the line every day to protect our communities and respond in times of crisis. We are grateful for their service and commitment.

We are proud to stand alongside our fellow first responders and grateful for the trust and collaboration that allows us to serve our community together.

As the new school year begins, it is everyone’s responsibility to keep students safe — on the roads and beyond.

Drivers should be alert on the roads and pay careful attention to school-related traffic laws such as speed limits in school zones, yielding to pedestrians at crosswalks, and stopping for school buses when their lights are flashing and stop arms are extended.

Parents and guardians can also offer their students safety tips. Children waiting for the bus should stay 10 feet away from the curb. When the bus arrives, they should wait until it has completely stopped and they have seen the bus driver’s signal to enter.

Children biking to school should always wear a properly fitting helmet, use bike lanes when possible, and abide by traffic laws and signals. Children walking to school should only cross the street at crosswalks and should never play or push each other near traffic.

For more back-to-school safety tips from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, visit: https://tinyurl.com/NHTSASchoolSafety

Chief Mark Foley reports that the Swansea Police Department has charged three people following an investigation into a series of car thefts and motor vehicle break-ins last month.

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As the Fourth of July holiday approaches quickly, we would like to remind residents that the recreational use of fireworks is illegal in Massachusetts.

According to the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services, there have been more than 550 fires and explosions involving illegal fireworks in Massachusetts in the past five years. Six firefighters were injured in these incidents, and damages were estimated at nearly $1 million.

Between 2019 and 2023, Massachusetts medical facilities treated more than 200 people for burns and other injuries associated with fireworks. Two dozen people were treated for severe burn injuries that covered 5% or more of the victim’s body.

The possession, use and sale of fireworks without a professional license is against the law in Massachusetts and punishable by confiscation, fine or imprisonment. Fines range from $100 to $1,000, and some violations could carry a one-year prison sentence.

Please leave fireworks to the professionals!