Denise Papagno Leaves Lasting Legacy with Easton Police Department

Ever since she was a teenager, Denise Papagno always she wanted to be in law enforcement.

This year, she will retire from the after 20 years of service, the majority of them as the domestic violence officer.

“I knew right after high school I wanted to be in Law Enforcement. I wanted to work with trouble juveniles,” said Papagno, who graduated from Brockton High School and Massasoit Community College.  “I was a volunteer/mentor at the Brockton District Court probation department.  I wanted to be a probation officer but it was a tough job to land so, while I was a store detective (and then the loss prevention manager) for Jordan Marsh, I took the civil service police exam.  Three exams and 11 years later, I was hired in Easton.  That was 20 years ago.”

For 15 of her 20 years on the police force, Papagno served as Easton’s domestic violence officer after the position was created in response to a realization that domestic violence was a local problem that required immediate attention. 

A task force of town employees investigated how other towns responded to families in need of services and found that the first thing that needed to be done was get a policy in place for all town employees and to educate everyone about domestic violence, how to help themselves, coworker and a friend if someone they know was being abused, said Papagno.  

The task force wanted to assists families to  help themselves and get out of the cycle of violence that continues from generation to generation. 

“We then felt that the middle school aged children were at high risk for straying from their academics, and children of abuse and abusive homes were at even higher risk of failure in academics and in life in general, so we started an after school homework club,” she said. 

They also raised funds for the middle school late bus for all kids who stay after school for homework help or sports to ensure everyone had a chance to participate in after school programs.  This program still continues today and is funded through the HUGS II (Help Us Get Safe) organization which Papagno helped develop in Easton 14 years ago.

HUGS is a non- profit 5013c organization that is committed to eliminating family violence in Easton through awareness, education, early intervention and prevention. It is staffed by a group of dedicated volunteers who live and work in the community. 

Papagno said the group’s first priority is to assist families in crisis and ensure their safety.

“Each year, we provide direct services to Easton families which takes away some of the financial burden to allow families to become independent from their abuser," she said. "We assist with emergency housing, day care, relocation fees, travel expenses, rent, motor vehicle expenses and make referrals to many organizations that can help them through their journey away from abuse.  We try to fill the gap of need when everyone else is out of money or they don't help with certain things.  We have no red tape or crazy guidelines, just a board of trustees who make immediate decisions when a family is in need.”

Papagno said she loves working with the Easton community and she will continue to serve as HUGS President after her retirement.  She also hopes to secure funding to start new HUGS organizations in other towns as they have already done in Sharon and Foxboro.  The first HUGS chapter was started in East Bridgewater.

Easton Chief of Police has known Papagno for more than 20 years.

“Denise will be missed by her friends and coworkers at the Easton Police Station…She was instrumental in raising awareness about domestic abuse issues in Easton, she is very passionate and dedicated to the cause of helping victims of domestic abuse,” said Krajcik.  “The HUGS organization has been incorporated as a non-profit and thanks to Denise’s leadership is the largest and most active HUGS group in the state.  She also has taught students in the Easton Public Schools about the issue of domestic violence and has helped many students who have come to her with personal issues.”

For more information on HUGS, visit www.eastonhugs.org, their Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/HUGS-II-Help-Us-Get-Safe-Easton-MA/126882334011199?sk=wall or contact eastonhugs@comcast.net or 508-230-3309.

Easton Police Officer Beverley McRoberts will take over as the next domestic violence officer.