Police Protecting Animals: Officer Helps Raccoon, Lt. Helps Turtle and Her Babies

HOLLISTON, MA—Officer James Ward and Lt. David Gatchell spend their days protecting the public, and that, as evidenced yesterday, includes animals.

While on patrol Wednesday morning, Officer Ward encountered a baby raccoon by itself in a parking lot in an industrial park in Holliston. He decided to relocate the raccoon to a wooded area that was safer than the heavily-trafficked area where he ended up.

That same day, Lt. Gatchell spotted a large female snapping turtle who was laying her eggs in the back lot of the police station. Gatchell alerted officers to make sure that their cars coming in and out of the lot wouldn't hit her or her eggs.

"We're not sure if the mother turtle knew the police department was the safest place in town or if she knew she would be treated so nicely by our Officers," wrote Holliston police on their Facebook page. "Either way, we're happy to be the host of what looks to be like a large new batch of baby turtles on the way!"