Court Strikes Down Portion of Drunk Driving Law

Sen. Bruce Tarr called court's decision “deeply concerning and undermines the effectiveness of a major law that protects our public safety.”

The state Supreme Judicial Court on Thursday removed a portion of a law that targeted drunk driving, known as Melanie’s Law. The court Thursday disallowed the portion of the law that allows the Registry of Motor Vehicles to increase sanctions against those who admit to driving drunk, but whose cases are later dismissed, reported the Boston Globe. The issue is that when lawmakers changed the state’s drunk driving law, they did not change what a “conviction” means. Supreme Judicial Court Justice Margot Botsford wrote in the unanimous decision that the law did not “explicity include cases that are ‘continued without a finding’ in its list of what can be considered drunk driving convictions,” reported the Globe. The court decision did not …

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Police Log

Man Issued Summons After Allegedly Shoplifting at Crosby's

A roundup of activity for the Hamilton Police and Fire Department for May 14-15. Where charges are mentioned, it does not indicate a conviction.

The following activity for the Hamilton Police and Fire Department comes from the Hamilton-Wenham Emergency Center log for Monday, May 14 through Tuesday, May 15. Monday, May 14 9:29 a.m. A suspicious vehicle was reported on Tally Ho Drive. 10:52 a.m. Somebody was injured after a call for assistance from Miles River Middle School. 11:06 a.m. An animal call was handled at the station. 12:25 p.m. Community policing was conducted at the station. 2:26 p.m. A 911 hang-up or wrong dial call came from a Lake Drive address. 2:27 p.m. An animal call was handled on Highland Street. 2:30 p.m. Animal control was called to a Northedge Road address for an animal call. 4:46 p.m. A report was written after assistance was rendered at Hamilton-Wenham …

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Woman and Dog Escape Unharmed After Tree Crushes Car in Wenham Driveway

A woman and her dog escaped unharmed - with seconds to spare - after a tree fell on her car and crushed it on Tuesday.

Brittney Barry and her dog Kovu had just gotten into her car in a Wenham driveway on Tuesday when she heard it – the sounds of a cracking tree. Barry looked up to see a large tree coming down, straight at the Saturn Ion she was sitting in. “It happened so fast I don’t remember how I got out,” Barry said during an interview with Patch on Wednesday morning in the driveway of Pond Hill Farm on Main Street. The survival story of Barry, 21, and her dog, a mini-Australian Shepherd, was first reported by WHDH-TV. It happened at about 3 p.m. as Barry said she was leaving. She works at the home taking care of one of its owner, Charlie Cole, a well-known figure and former professional polo player at Myopia Hunt Club in Hamilton. She was on the phone…

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You Ask...Patch Answers

Why Are Flags at Half Staff?

Some people have asked why many flags are at half staff on Tuesday.

Flags at government buildings are at half staff on Tuesday in honor of Peace Officers Memorial Day and Police Week. In Hamilton, Police Memorial Week will be observed on Sunday, May 20 at 9 a.m. with a observance at the Hamilton Police Memorial in Hamilton Cemetery, according to Hamilton Police Sgt. Stephen Trepanier. The observance is being organized by the Hamilton Police Relief organization and the guest speaker will be Dr. Timothy Johnson, the headmastere at Pingree School. "Police Officers Memorial Day honors and remembers police officers who gave their lives while on duty and those who served the town of Hamilton," Trepanier said in announcing the observance. In his note to local governments, Gov. Deval Patrick's note reads: "Please …

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A Cop

10:26 am on Friday, May 18, 2012

As a response the the issue of the Hamilton police I feel it necessary to say a few words as I have followed this contemptible police department for years now as I work in another department nearby. The issue of if HPD is good or not should not be in a forum about police week because that honors heros and HPD has not one hero left in the ranks. It should be in an article that tells about the …   more ›

Police Intern Helps Improve Safety on Two Hamilton Roads

An intern from Hamilton-Wenham Regional High School has spent recent months learning about all aspects of a town police department - along with coming up with two safety improvements on two main roads in town.

Safety improvements will be coming to Bay and Chebacco roads thanks to the work of a high school intern at the Hamilton Police Department. Zach Bird, a senior at Hamilton-Wenham Regional High School, is the department’s second intern in recent years. Bird, who participated in last year’s Citizens Police Academy, is interested in a career in law enforcement and reached out to Chief Russell Stevens about the possibility of an internship with the department. After meeting with school officials and Bird’s parents, Bird came on board as an intern. Stevens says he holds high standards for interns – he expected Bird to dress professionally in a shirt and tie each day, keep a daily journal and write a reflection paper at the end. Bird wrapped up …

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Police Log

Richdale Break-in and Arrest for Driving with a Suspended License

A roundup of activity for the Wenham Police and Fire Department for May 2-8. Where charges are mentioned, it does not indicate a conviction.

The following activity for the Wenham Police and Fire Department comes from the Hamilton-Wenham Emergency Center log for Wednesday, May 2 through Tuesday, May 8. Wednesday, May 2 2 a.m. A suspicious person was reported on Parsons Hill Road. 6:40 a.m. A burglary was reported at Richdale on Topsfield Road. 9:26 a.m. A 911 hang-up call or wrong dial came from Patti Lane. 9:50 a.m. Directions were given out. 11:58 a.m. A lost and found call was transferred. 1:25 p.m. A disabled vehicle was assisted on Main Street. 3:52 p.m. An illegally parked vehicle was reported in front of a Perkins Street address. 5:02 p.m. An animal call was handled at Cherry Street and Stage Hill Road. 9:02 p.m. A verbal warning was issued after a car stop on Main Street…

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