NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — A half-dozen police officers were recognized on Tuesday night with citations from Gov. Charlie Baker. 

 

The presentation at the City Council meeting was done at the initiation of James Holmes, a retired teacher and former School Committee member. 

 

Holmes had invited the Police Department to become involved in the public school forensic course he taught, among several other collaborations. 

 

"In my 20 years of teaching, I thought it was important to students and their families, that the Police Department interact with them and get to know them on a basis other than a police call," he told the council. "I worked hand in hand with many of these officers on many different occasions."

 

The officers had done an internet safety program, attended dances, visited classrooms to read Dr. Suess books and started the Running With the Law program. 

 

"Students came out on Saturdays and spent an hour running around downtown with the officers," Holmes said. "The only requirement they had to do is the students had to speak to everybody that they ran by. And they did."

 

The science teacher, who also ran with them, said they spoke to everyone and visited places like the banks and Big Y Supermarket to sing carols during the Christmas season. 

 

"I went along because I enjoyed it as much as they did," he said.

 

The run also became a road race with officers raising about $4,800 to donate to PopCares, a local cancer charity. 

 

The officers helped with the science fair as judges as well as working with the kids on their projects and came in once a week to work with the forensic program.

 

"They never said anything except 'what do you want us to do next week?'" said Holmes, adding much of this was on their own time. 

 

Then this past July, Orella Loretta Robare was given a police escort to City Hall to mark her 100th birthday and danced with several of the officers. 

 

"These officers so kind-heartedly came down to dance with her and spend a little time with her," said Holmes. "And that means the world to me. So I called the governor's office and I explained every single thing that they did."

 

Holmes, Mayor Jennifer Macksey and Police Chief Jason Wood presented the citations to Lt. Anthony Beverly, Sgt. Preston Kelly and Officers Matthew Meranti, Kelly Wisnowski and Alon Willing. Also recognized were Officers Brad Vivori and Stephanie Mirante, who were unable to attend the meeting. 

 

"They keep us safe, they keep the city running in the right direction," said Holmes. "They are a very important bunch of people in our city and I thank them for their service again.

 

In other business during the brief meeting, the council unanimously (with Councilor Marie T. Harpin participating remotely) approved the replacement of two electrical poles by National Grid. 

 

Electric company representative Michael Tatro said the first was at 966 State Road to accommodate a change in service by a resident and the second on Lincoln Street will handle a junction box for Big Y to install electric car chargers. 

 

Tatro said, in response to comments during open microphone, that National Grid always asks permission before installing any poles or guide wires on public or private property. He also clarified that the electric company installs poles but that Verizon removes them. That's why there are sometimes double poles -- the phone company has to move its own wires. 

 

Kelsey St. Pierre and Edward LaCosse were approved to drive a taxi for OTT Taxi. 

 

The general election was set for Tuesday, Nov. 8.