Framingham Town Meeting Gives Standing Ovation to Framingham Police, SWAT Team

Framingham Police Chief Steven Carl outlined the work of the Framingham Police department following the Boston Marathon bombings, the visit by the President and the manhunt in Watertown to Town Meeting members Wednesday night.

While he was speaking, members of the SWAT team as well as other members of the department stood behind him, in front of Town Meeting members.

When the chief finished delivering his remarks, Town Meeting members gave the officers and SWAT team members a standing ovation.

Below are the complete remarks by the Chief:

On Monday, April 15, 2013, Patriots Day in Massachusetts, the Boston Marathon, the City of  Boston and the people of Massachusetts were  attacked when two improvised explosive devices were detonated on Boylston Street near the finish line. ln the hours following the bombing, requests were made by the Boston Police for aid and assistance in the  form of Police Officers to assist in securing the City of Boston.

Members of the Framingham Police SWAT Team specifically: Sergeant Vincent Stuart, Officer Steven Casey, Officer Kenneth Blass, Sergeant Robert Sibilio,  Sergeant Timothy O'Toole, Officer Leonard Pini, Officer Michael Sheehan, Officer Brian Curtis, Officer Christopher Ottaviani and Officer Richard Fuer under the direction of Deputy Chief Craig Davis answered the call for assistance and deployed to Boston.

Starting early on Tuesday, April 16, 2013, team members met on Boston Common to assist other SWAT teams from Massachusetts. These officers  manned security posts at predetermined locations throughout the City of Boston. These security posts were held in 12 hour rotations' until Thursday, April 17, 2013. SWAT officers each worked multiple rotations during this time frame.

On April 18, 2013 Sergeant Lester Baker, Sergeant Richard Pomales, Officer's Sean Riley, Kenneth Blass, Christopher Burrell, Christopher Langmeyer and Detectives David Delprete and Greg Reardon were assigned to assist the Boston Police in the aftermath of the Marathon Day bombing by providing additional  security for President Obamas appearance. A total of 265 municipal, state, and federal Law Enforcement Officers from across Massachusetts were assigned to  this security detail, these officers provided security for the President of the United States and more importantly allowed the hundreds of officers engaged in investigating the bombing and securing of multiple venues related to the investigation to remain focused on their assignments without being redeployed or otherwise distracted

On Friday, April 19, 2013 officers from Watertown, Boston, MBTA, and other law enforcement agencies were involved in a violent confrontation with the suspects in the marathon bombing. One police officer was killed; one police officer was shot and wounded. One of the suspects was killed and the other escaped into Watertown.

The aforementioned Members of the Framingham Police SWAT Team responded to Watertown to assist in the coordinated search for the second bombing suspect. The suspect was reported to be armed and possibly still in possession of IED's. These officers worked along side of tactical operators from other local, state and federal law enforcement agencies. Simultaneous to the SWAT teams deployment Sergeant Lester Baker, Sergeant Phil Hurton, Officer Sean Riley, Officer Christopher Langmeyer & Canine Jef were deployed to Boston and assigned to a Regional Tactical Unit to provide tactical security and Deputy Chief Steven Trask, Lieutenant Blais Tersoni, Officer Brian Blue and Paul. Patriarca were deployed in the departments Mobile Command vehicle to Watertown to provide logistical support to the tactical units conducting the Search.

Sergeant Scott Brown and Detective Matt Gutwill who are assigned to DEA Task Force Investigative Units, were reassigned and deployed with their DEA counterparts to provide investigative assistance and support to the FBI / Boston Police Joint investigation team.

Deputy Craig Davis was assigned to the Unified Command Center in Boston on multiple days following the tragic bombing. Deputy Davis ensured Framingham Police SWAT Operators were properly assigned and deployed to assist Boston, State and regional tactical units in securing numerous critical venues in the City of Boston throughout the week, and on Friday April 19, Deputy Davis provided assistance to Tactical Command Operations in Watertown in response to the intensive manhunt for the bombing suspect.

This effort of the Framingham Officers deployed to assist the City of Boston and the Boston Police Department was the ultimate display of courage, dedication and teamwork for which the Framingham community should be proud of.