Taunton Police Department Archives - Taunton Fire Department

Taunton Police and Fire Departments Announce Positive Coronavirus Cases

March 26, 2020 by Benjamin Paulin Leave a Comment

TAUNTON — Police Chief Edward Walsh and Fire Chief Timothy Bradshaw confirmed today that the City of Taunton has been notified by Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) officials of three confirmed cases of COVID-19 within the Taunton Police Department and one positive case within the Taunton Fire Department.

Taunton Health Department officials were notified by DPH of the positive test results and have been in contact with each of the individuals. The patients have been isolated and are being supported and monitored according to public health guidelines. Under State and Federal privacy laws no further information is available about the individuals.

Close contacts (defined as someone who has spent more than 15 minutes within six feet of a positive case) have been identified, contacted by health officials, and are adhering to DPH orders for quarantine.

The quarantined close contacts will be monitored on a daily basis by Taunton Health officials while they are in quarantine to limit the risk of spread.

It should be noted that out of an abundance of caution, all members of each department that came in close contact with the individuals began to self-quarantine prior to the notification of positive test results of the confirmed cases.

The Taunton Police and Fire Departments will continue to respond to all emergencies and are taking all proper precautions when coming in contact with residents and community members.

Chief Walsh and Chief Bradshaw stress that this remains a very fluid and rapidly evolving situation and both departments are working closely with Mayor Shaunna O’Connell’s Office and Taunton Health Department officials. The Taunton Board of Health, Taunton Police Department and Taunton Fire Department will follow CDC guidelines and remain in contact with the individual throughout their illness.

“Our number one priority during this time is serving the people of our community while staying safe and remaining healthy,” said Chief Walsh. “At this time, we have three confirmed cases of COVID-19 in our ranks. All other members of the department who have been deemed a close contact have been contacted by the DPH and are following the proper guidelines. We would like to remind the community that the department remains fully operational during this time and that it is safe to call us if you are in need of assistance.”

Both departments will continue to limit access to the stations to outside visitors for general, walk-in business until further notice.

In an effort to continue practicing social distancing, all citizens are asked to make all non-emergency reports and inquiries to both departments by telephone or email, rather than in person.

The Taunton Police Department can be reached at its business line at 508-824-7522 or online at its website https://tauntonpd.com/. The Taunton Fire Department can be reached at 508-821-1452 or at its website https://tauntonfd.com/.

As always, please call 911 for any emergency.

“We are taking all of the necessary precautions to prevent the spread of the virus and will continue to closely monitor the situation as it continues to unfold,” Chief Bradshaw said. “We wish everyone a quick recovery and hope that they’re all back to full health soon.”

Safety Measures & Precautions

In addition to limiting public access to the lobby, the Taunton Police and Fire Departments have taken the following actions:

Practicing social distancing while at work and at home
Increasing the cleaning and sanitation of common touch points and surfaces
Encouraging proper self-care and hygiene including frequently washing hands, ensuring bathrooms are stocked with hand washing materials and making cleaning products and sanitizers available
Ensuring all personnel are fit-tested for masks
Reviewing Contagious Diseases and Pandemic Planning and Response policies
Reviewing the proper use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Modifying medical response protocol
Ensuring the department has ample supplies of PPE for medical responses

These temporary measures will be reviewed on a continuous basis. When changes are necessary, they will be communicated to the public.

For more information, visit the DPH website by clicking here and the CDC’s website by clicking here.

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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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Safety Measures & Precautions

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