Taunton Police Department Archives - Taunton Fire Department

Taunton Police and Fire Departments Respond After Two Children Fall Through Ice into Taunton River

January 23, 2020 by Benjamin Paulin Leave a Comment

Children Pulled out of River by Good Samaritans and TPD Officers

TAUNTON — Police Chief Edward Walsh and Fire Chief Timothy Bradshaw report that the Taunton Police and Fire Departments responded after two children fell through the ice and into the Taunton River Thursday afternoon.

Two 14-year-old boys are expected to be okay after being rescued from the river by three Good Samaritans and four Taunton Police officers.

At approximately 2 p.m. Thursday, Taunton resident Kevin Boss, age 54, was driving in the area of County Street and Ingell Street when he noticed two boys that were in the Taunton River. One of the boys was trying to swim to shore while the other was struggling to stay afloat.

Boss pulled over and grabbed a rope from this vehicle. Simultaneously, two Taunton School Department employees, Assistant Storekeeper Nick DaCosta and Community Facilitator Lynne Farina, also saw the boys and both pulled their vehicles over to help.

A short time later, Taunton Police Officer Daniel Williams, Officer Matt Travers, Officer Brendan Canary and Captain Daniel McCabe arrived on scene.

The seven adults used the rope to safely pull the boys ashore.

The Taunton Fire Department responded quickly to the scene and transported the boys via ambulance to Morton Hospital to be evaluated. The boys are expected to be okay.

It is believed that the boys were in the water for approximately five minutes.

Police Chief Walsh would like to praise the efforts of his officers and the Good Samaritans who helped pull the boys to safety.

“This was a fantastic job by the people who stopped and our officers who helped to get these boys out of the water quickly,” Chief Walsh said. “Thankfully, it appears that the boys are going to be alright.”

Fire Chief Bradshaw echoed Chief Walsh’s sentiments and also warned that it is never safe to step on thin ice.

“Thankfully these boys weren’t seriously hurt and the people who stopped to help should be considered heroes,” Chief Bradshaw said. “Though temperatures have been cold recently, it has not been cold long enough to make it safe to walk, skate or fish on any waterway in Taunton.”

As a policy, the Taunton Fire Department does not certify whether any bodies of water are safe to use for recreational purposes. Those who do choose to go out on ice should stay away from all ice in the area of open water, flowing water or where the ice looks slushy or thin.

The Taunton Police and Fire Departments would like to recommend the following ice safety tips:

General Ice and Cold Water Safety

Never go onto the ice alone, since it’s unlikely you will be able to call for help if you fall through the ice.
Always keep your pets on a leash. If a pet falls through the ice, do not attempt a rescue it. Call 911 instead.
New ice is usually stronger than old ice. As the ice ages, the bond between the crystals decay, making it weaker, even if melting has not occurred.
Beware of ice covered with snow. Snow can insulate ice and keep it strong, but can also insulate it to keep it from freezing.
Slush is a danger sign, indicating that ice is no longer freezing from the bottom and can be weak or deteriorating.
Ice formed over flowing water (rivers or lakes containing a large number of springs) is generally 15 percent weaker.
Ice seldom freezes or thaws at a uniform rate. It can be one foot thick in one spot and be only one inch thick 10 feet away.

What To Do If Someone Falls Through Ice

Reach-Throw-Go: If someone falls through the ice and you are unable to reach that person from shore, throw them something (rope, jumper cables, tree branch, etc.) If this does not work, go for help before you also become a victim. Get medical assistance for the victim immediately.
If you fall in, try not to panic. Turn toward the direction you came from. Place your hands and arms on the unbroken surface, working forward by kicking your feet. Once out, remain lying on the ice (do not stand) and roll away from the hole. Crawl back to your tracks, keeping your weight distributed until you return to solid ice.

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Taunton Police and Fire Departments Begin 13-Week Emergency Response Training Program Tonight

January 16, 2020 by Leah Comins Leave a Comment

TAUNTON — Police Chief Edward Walsh and Fire Chief Timothy Bradshaw report that the Taunton Police and Fire Departments have begun a 13-week emergency response training program tonight.

The multi-agency training exercise will be taking place at a location near the downtown. The training sessions will be done every Thursday night beginning at 5 p.m.

Residents may see an increased first responder presence in the area of Winthrop Street while the training is ongoing, but should know there is no cause for alarm.

During tonight’s training, a brief segment of the exercise was inadvertently broadcast over a secondary radio training channel. However, no further radio use will be done for the remainder of the training sessions.

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Joint Release Taunton Police and Fire Departments Free Teenager Trapped in Car

December 30, 2019 by Matthew Reid Leave a Comment

TAUNTON — Police Chief Edward Walsh and Fire Chief Timothy Bradshaw report that the Taunton Police and Fire Departments responded to a local car wash after a teenager was pinned inside a vehicle by another vehicle yesterday.

The teenager was not injured by the crash.

At approximately 2:09 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 29, Taunton Police and Fire responded to Prestige Car Wash, 13 Cape Road, Taunton, for a report of a motor vehicle crash.

Upon arrival, officers found a 2019 GMC Sierra pickup truck had backed up onto a 2013 Ford Focus, completely pinning the car. A teenage female from Middleborough was in the backseat of the Focus.

Firefighters used hydraulic tools to extract the teenager, who was the only occupant of the vehicle at the time of the accident.

After an initial investigation, police believe that a Middleborough man was putting floor mats back into the Sierra after vacuuming it, and a mat became stuck above the accelerator pedal. The car then accelerated in reverse across the parking lot of the establishment, crashing through the bay where another Middleborough man was manually washing the Focus from outside the vehicle.

The owner of the Focus was able to get out of the way before the Sierra backed into his car. The truck rode up onto the hood of the car, crushing it.

The owner of the Focus and the teenager inside were transported by ambulance to a nearby hospital for evaluation, but sustained no injuries.

There was significant damage to the walls of the bay, which is currently closed. The rest of the car wash is currently open.

Officers were thankful that no one was hurt during the crash.

“Considering the significant damage to the vehicles involved it is remarkable that no one was seriously injured in this incident,” Chief Walsh said. “We are grateful that everyone is OK.”

“We commend the work of the officers and firefighters involved for acting so quickly to rescue the teenager who was trapped in the vehicle,” Chief Bradshaw added.

The incident is being considered accidental and no charges have been filed at this time.

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Taunton Police and Fire Departments Offer Halloween Safety Tips

October 30, 2019 by Leah Comins Leave a Comment

TAUNTON– Police Chief Edward Walsh and Fire Chief Timothy Bradshaw would like to offer residents some important safety tips as Halloween approaches to ensure everyone celebrates safely and responsibly.

“Halloween is fun for the whole community and we look forward to seeing everyone out in their costumes and enjoying the evening,” Chief Walsh said. “Before going trick-or-treating, we encourage parents to make sure their child’s costume fits properly so that kids can see and walk safely.”

The Taunton Police and Fire Departments recommend that residents follow safety tips outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services:

Dressing Up

Wear well-fitting masks, costumes and shoes to avoid blocked vision, trips and falls. Consider adding reflective tape to kids’ costumes and bags to help drivers see them.
If temperatures are cold during trick-or-treating time, be sure to have your kids wear long sleeves and warm clothing under their costume.
If a child is wearing a mask instead of make-up, make sure the eye holes are large enough to see through clearly. Consider non-toxic makeup and decorative hats as a safer alternative to masks. Always test make-up in a small area of skin first and always remove make-up before bedtime to prevent possible skin and eye irritation.
When shopping for costume pieces, look for and purchase ones that are labeled as flame retardant.
Swords, knives and other costume accessories should be short, soft and flexible. A child may be easily hurt by accessories if he or she stumbles or trips.

Trick-or-Treating

Children under 12 should always be accompanied by an adult. Avoid trick-or-treating alone.
If your older children are going out without parental supervision, go over ground rules first and set a curfew. Have them travel in a group, with a cell phone and flashlight. Make sure children know how to call 911 if they have an emergency.
Pedestrian injuries are very common on Halloween. Remind kids to stay in a group. They should walk on sidewalks whenever possible, or on the far edge of the road facing traffic. Crosswalks should be used whenever possible and children should always look both ways before crossing the street.
Only go to homes with a porch light on. Never go into a home or car for a treat.
Examine all of your kids’ treats for choking hazards and tampering. Do not eat treats that have been opened, even partially. Avoid eating homemade treats made by strangers.

Keeping Your Home Safe for Trick-or-Treaters

Make sure your home is well-lit inside and out and that there is a clear path to your front door.
Keep all decorations like cornstalks and hay away from heat sources and lit candles.
Use battery-operated tea lights instead of candles in jack o’lanterns.
Remember to put matches and lighters away in a high, locked cabinet so children cannot access them or be tempted to relight jack o’lanterns by themselves.

“We would like to remind homeowners to keep Halloween decorations away from open flames,” Chief Bradshaw said. “Decorations such as cornstalks or crepe paper are extremely flammable. These decorations should be kept away from any flame or heating source such as lit jack o’lanterns. Children should also be taught to stay away from jack o’lanterns lit with candles.”

As always, any suspicious person or vehicle should immediately be reported to Taunton Police by dialing 911.

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Taunton Police and Fire Departments Remind Residents that Use of Fireworks in Massachusetts is Illegal

July 1, 2019 by Benjamin Paulin Leave a Comment

TAUNTON — Police Chief Edward Walsh and Fire Chief Timothy Bradshaw would like to remind Taunton residents as the Fourth of July approaches that the use of fireworks is illegal in the state of Massachusetts.

It is illegal to use, possess, or sell fireworks of any kind in Massachusetts, including Class C fireworks, which are sometimes falsely called “safe and sane fireworks.” Class C fireworks include sparklers, party poppers, snappers, firecrackers, spinners, cherry bombs and more. Residents are also prohibited from purchasing fireworks elsewhere and transporting them into the state.

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, during the month surrounding the Fourth of July, approximately 280 people nationwide go to the emergency room seeking treatment for injuries caused by fireworks every day.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, fireworks are also the cause of 18,500 fires on average each year.

This does not mean residents cannot enjoy fireworks displays over the course of the summer. However, Chief Walsh and Chief Bradshaw recommend that residents only attend celebrations put on by a licensed professional to ensure safety.

Residents should also remember to:

Watch fireworks displays from a safe distance.
Call 911 if anyone gets injured by fireworks.
Set a positive example for children by not using illegal fireworks. If kids see adults using them, they may not realize the dangers and could be encouraged to pick up matches or lighters.
Be careful around even the smallest fireworks. Sparklers burn at 1,800 degrees and could easily cause severe burns and injuries.

Anyone who has questions about fireworks or fireworks safety should contact the Taunton Fire Department at 508-824-4024 or the Taunton Police Department at 508-824-7522.

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Children Pulled out of River by Good Samaritans and TPD Officers

Dressing Up

Trick-or-Treating

Keeping Your Home Safe for Trick-or-Treaters

Fire Chief Timothy J. Bradshaw

Fire Chief
Timothy J. Bradshaw