Norton Police Respond to Three Crashes Sunday Morning
One driver arrested for operating under the influence of alcohol and negligent operation of a motor vehicle.
Norton Police and Fire Departments responded to three motor vehicle crashes early Sunday morning.
At 1:27 a.m., a crash was reported in front of 50 Cobb St. where a vehicle struck a utility pole. The crash broke the utility pole and caused wires to be down across the roadway. The operator, Matthew Mowry, 20, of Norton, was not cited in the crash and was not injured. Crews from Verizon and National Grid responded to the scene to repair the damage. The crash is under investigation by patrolman Thomas Durden.
Another single vehicle crash was reported 2:39 a.m. at the intersection of Pine Street and Plain Street. The vehicle was approximately 100 feet into the woods and on its side at 51 Pine St., causing property damage. The operator, Stefan Sunda, 20, of Bronx, N.Y., was transported to Rhode Island Hospital for non-life threatening injuries by the Norton Fire Department. Sunda was cited for speeding and a stop sign violation. The crash is under investigation by patrolman Scott Sweeting.
Then at 4:45 a.m., a single vehicle crash was reported in the area of 118 Mansfield Ave. across from Tsang's Restaurant. The vehicle struck a utility pole and caused wires to be down acros the roadway. National Grid crews responded to the scene and repaired the damage, restoring power to nearby residents. The operator, Bryan Fabregas, 23, of Pawtucket, R.I., was placed under arrest at the scene. He is charged with operating under the influence of alcohol and negligent operation of a motor vehicle. That area of Mansfield Avenue was closed for approximately one hour. The incident is under investigation by patrolman Thomas Durden.
Michael McKenney
3:49 pm on Sunday, May 6, 2012
I hope the citizens of Norton realize that all this was handled by three officers. This is the manpower that we usually have on the road most days and nights. It's the same level of cops on the street as it was 25 years ago when the population was half the size it was now. Let's hope the powers that run the town government will some day see the need for a substantial increase in the police budget before one of our officers is seriously hurt or worse before this town wakes up. Especially when a huge 172 unit residential subdivision is in the works for Newland St. How is the police department going to handle all the calls for service from all those new residents????
Norton Deals-Happenings
5:00 pm on Sunday, May 6, 2012
hmmm, 4 officers making over $104,000.00 per year, another 11 making over $80,000.00 per year. there are approx. 1.4 officers per thousand residents according to the 2010 Norton annual report. This does not include detail work (some making another $40,000.00 per year) this also doesn't include "special police" salary (some officers are doing both). (compare that to 1.9 officers per thousand residents in Taunton, yet, Taunton's crime rate is 600% higher than Norton and the payroll per capita is about 19% less.) The police dept. has a payroll higher than any other town department. Second would be the Fire Dept. where we have 4 people making over $100,000.00 per year and another 11 making over $80,000.00 per year. I don't think the budget should be running on empty anytime soon.
Michael McKenney
8:17 pm on Sunday, May 6, 2012
Hey "Norton Deals-Happenings", was my post about officers salaries? Most officers have to work +60 per week to earn over $80,000. The money isn't handed to them, that's many days and nights away from their families. But that's no matter to you I'm sure.
As for some more facts, Norton is LAST in per capita spending for it's police department. That is true of all the 15 surrounding towns, many of which have a lower population. The national average/ratio for officers per citizen is 2.2 per thousand. Norton has approx. 20,000 citizens, not including the 2,500 Wheaton Students and faculty. That would mean Norton should have about 12 more full time officers than it currently does. Also, the fire department budget is $400,000 more than the police department. The police department has had little or no increase in it's operating budget in the last 12 years. For the first decade of the new millennium the police department had a hiring freeze, no new positions were filled during that 10 year period. If you want any more facts you let me know. You will also notice that I publish my real name, unlike yourself.
AL Fuller
7:51 pm on Tuesday, May 8, 2012
It is always unfortunate when people make public comments with little to information to base there comments. The fact that there are members of both departments making those salaries is because of the untold number of hours that need to be worked. Those salaries equate to an full time job and 2 maybe 3 part time jobs in total hours worked. I think that "Norton-Deals-Happenings" would realize that if staffing levels were increased that you wouldn't see the numbers that seem to bother them soo. I invite anyone that feels that we police/fire are over paid to walk in our shoes, work our hours,our nights,weekends & holidays. I say don't judge me or my dept. based on what you read in a town report, come meet us ,see what we do and maybe you will have a different view of your public safety members & maybe you will judge us by who we are and what we do instead of what we make.
Cindy T.
7:24 pm on Friday, July 13, 2012
I agree with Al Fuller and Michael McKenney... Critics of either the Norton Police or Fire Department are ignorant of what it takes to become a member of those honored positions. Their commitment to this community and their professialism I have witnessed first-hand on more than one occasion. We are fortunate for their dedication and service.
Trot Nixon
7:40 am on Saturday, July 14, 2012
Until the Town passes an overall town budget override what you see is what you get with Town services. I don't see any large tax revenue coming to the town soon so the only other option is a Prop 2 1/2 override but people in this town don't want to have their taxes raised and they oppose on any level. This kind of delayed emergency services will only continue. Whats going to happen when the Casino is built and 140 that cuts through Norton from Taunton? Since people don't give a damn about town government in Norton... we continue to have part time volunteers (Board of Selectman) making decisions for a $45 million dollar business (and yes a Town is a business).