Adams Police Chief Donates Bike Helmets in Aunt's Memory

Police Chief Richard Tarsa has donated 50 bicycle helmets for the Adams Police Department to distribute.

ADAMS, Mass. — Police Chief Richard Tarsa has donated 50 bicycle helmets in his aunt's memory to the Adams Police Department for local kids.

Tarsa addressed the Selectmen during Wednesday night's meeting and said bicycle safety was incredibly important to his aunt, Helen Tarsa.

"My aunt passed away two years ago … and she made a comment when my kids were small … that it was good that they were wearing helmets," Tarsa said. "Years would go by and we would sit out on the front porch … and she would see neighborhood kids come by. She said it would be nice if each kid had a helmet because it’s the best thing you can do."

Tarsa said there are no grants available to replenish the helmets the police used to give out to children in the past. He said this is a way to continue providing them while he searches for possible grants.

"If there is funding out there that will be able to afford us the opportunity to purchase helmets, I am welcome to look at it, but right now we haven’t had helmets in a year,” he said. "We gave out our last one last summer and we haven't had any since."

Tarsa said he thinks it is important to have the helmets available for kids in the community.

"It is giving back to the community more or less," he said. "The way things are now with families finding hardships, it is nice to be able to have something to give to the kids."

Tarsa said he has already given out five helmets and any child interested in one should stop at the police department.

"The kids were really happy when they came in and got them; they said we will wear them and that's a good thing," Tarsa said. "All you have to do is come in; if you are a kid and you don’t have a helmet, we will give you one, no questions asked."

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