Town of Swampscott Recognizes Police at Select Board Meeting

Swampscott Police being honored at Select Board Meeting

At the Swampscott Select Board meeting on Wednesday, December 4, Chief Ronald Madigan, Town Administrator Sean Fitzgerald, and the Select Board publicly recognized six Police Officers for their quick, life-saving operations in four separate incidents in 2018 and 2019.

  • On August 6, 2018, Detective Candace Doyle rescued a small child on an inflatable raft in troubled water off of Phillips Beach. Upon hearing the mother’s call for help, Detective Doyle and a civilian entered the water and together swam her safely to shore.
     
  • On Monday, June 3, 2019, Officer Michael Bowden, Lieutenant Bill Waters, and Sergeant Jonathan Locke rescued a paddle boarder struggling against 35-mph gusts in the waters off of Nahant, safely returning her to shore and preventing a life-threatening outcome.
     
  • On Saturday, June 22, 2019, Lieutenant Bill Waters, Sergeant Jonathan Locke, and Officer Brendan Reen rescued four boaters – including 2 young children – aboard kayaks and paddleboards at risk of being driven into a rock by strong winds.
     
  • On Sunday, June 23, 2019, Officer Kevin Reen entered the water in uniform to save a group of swimmers in great distress in the water off of Kings Beach. After swimming 200 yards to assist the swimmers, Reen swam one swimmer back to shore while others assisted another.

“The actions of these officers undoubtably saved lives,” said Town Administrator Sean Fitzgerald. “These officers represent the standard of care that all officers strive toward, and we are proud to call them heroes.”

Families of the officers as well as several individuals who were saved during these important operations were in attendance to express their gratitude.