Just in time for the Fourth of July Weekend, the Brockton Police Department will be equipping police vehicles with new lifesaving equipment.
The Housing Authority and Police Department partnered to purchase life preservers and rope for more than 40 police cruisers.
“Although Brockton’s not a waterfront community, we do have our share of ponds, lakes, streams, and also we’ve unfortunately had a terrible tragedy here,” said Police Chief Manny Gomes. “These life rings and this collaboration to bring this to fruition, will allow us to put an additional tool in all of our cruisers throughout the city. That includes the school police. Police officers, most often, are the first on the scene of these terrible incidents.”
In May, two Brockton boys drowned after skipping rocks near at Waldo Lake at D.W. Field Park.
Worcester Police Officer Manny Familia drowned earlier this month trying to save a 14-year-old in a pond.
“This idea came to us through Officer [Richard] Gaucher,” said Tom Thibeault, the Executive Director of the Brockton Housing Authority. “Officer Gaucher realized that the police officer in Worcester who perished, did not have anything to assist him while he was trying to save the lives of others. We realized that when a police officer shows up – that they need to act within seconds. The chief just told me that he had three officers in the water up at Field Park.”
The city is also offering free swimming lessons to residents between the ages of 13 and 20.
People can contact the Manning Pool at 508-588-2562.
“If there’s anybody here in the City of Brockton, youth or adults that want to learn how to swim, financial ramifications should not be a burden,” said Mayor Robert Sullivan. “It’s free swimming lessons. The whole purpose right now is to save lives. If you do not know how to swim and you want to learn, Brockton Community Schools, you can call the Mayor’s Office. We’re all in this together, one life is too much, it’s too tragic.”
