Suspect in Gloucester Jewelry Store Theft Arrested in Pennsylvania For Immediate Release Gloucester Police Department Interim Police Chief John McCarthy 197 Main St. Gloucester, MA 01930 Friday, Jan. 12, 2018 Media Contact: John Guilfoil Phone: 617-993-0003 Email: john@jgpr.net Suspect in Gloucester Jewelry Store Theft Arrested in Pennsylvania
ROBERT ELLIOTT, AGE 56, OF DEXTER, MAINE. (Courtesy Photo Gloucester Police) GLOUCESTER Interim Chief John McCarthy reports that a man was arrested this week on a warrant stemming from his involvement in a jewelry store theft last summer in Gloucester. ROBERT ELLIOTT, AGE 56, OF DEXTER, MAINE was arrested Thursday and will be charged with Larceny Over $250. On Saturday, July 9, Gloucester Police responded to DIVA (Donna s Infinite Variety of Adornments), located at 161 Main St., for a report of a past larceny. The owner told police that a man selected several pieces from the display case and asked that they be boxed up and he would return after running errands to purchase them. The man, later identified as ELLIOTT never returned, and while the owner was putting the items back in the display case, she noticed six pieces worth an estimated $8,625 missing. Following an extensive investigation, which was made possible by cooperation among multiple law enforcement agencies, Gloucester Police identified ELLIOTT as a suspect and obtained a warrant for his arrest. As a result of the investigation, Gloucester Police Detective Tom Quinn determined that ELLIOTT was residing in either New York or Pennsylvania, prompting him to extend the reach of his arrest warrant to include those states. Then, through a joint effort with the Pennsylvania State Police, ELLIOTT was taken into custody in Wysox, Pennsylvania, with a Canadian visa application in his possession.
This was a widespread and complex investigation that was well handled from start to finish by Detective Quinn, Chief McCarthy said. I am grateful for his committed work, as well as for the support of the law enforcement agencies that contributed to this arrest. The Massachusetts State Police Fugitive Unit, the Essex County District Attorney s Detective Unit, as well as police in Dexter and South Portland, Maine all contributed to the investigation. ELLIOTT is currently being held in Pennsylvania on $75,000 bail pending extradition to Massachusetts. These are allegations. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. ### Gloucester Fire Department Extinguishes Chimney Fire Gloucester Fire Department Eric Smith, Fire Chief 8 School St. Gloucester, MA 01930 For Immediate Release Sunday, Jan. 7, 2018 Contact: John Guilfoil Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net Gloucester Fire Department Extinguishes Chimney Fire Gloucester firefighters put out a chimney fire at a home on Hesperus Avenue Sunday morning. (Gloucester Fire Department) GLOUCESTER Chief Eric Smith reports that the Gloucester Fire Department put out a chimney fire at a home Sunday morning. At approximately 10:13 a.m., firefighters responded to 142 Hesperus Ave. Upon arrival firefighters saw a metal flue that was glowing red and smoke was coming from the chimney. With temperatures in the single digits, firefighters used a ladder to climb onto the roof and quickly put out the fire. The home was then checked to make sure that the flames did not spread into the walls of the house. The fire was contained to the chimney and the residents were
notified to have their chimney cleaned and inspected before using their wood stove again. This was great work by our Group 2 firefighters in these frigid conditions, Chief Smith said. This incident serves as a good reminder for residents to have their chimney s cleaned annually. In addition to making sure your chimneys are working properly, Chief Smith and the Gloucester Fire Department would like to offer the following tips to safely stay warm in these currently low temperatures: Keep a fire extinguisher handy and ensure everyone knows how to use it properly. Never heat your home with a gas stove or oven or charcoal barbecue grill. Make sure all heating devices are properly ventilated and always operate a generator outdoors and away from your home. Improper heating devices can lead to dangerous carbon monoxide buildup in the home. Test smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that can cause flu-like illness or death. If you suspect carbon monoxide poisoning, call 911 immediately, get the victim to fresh air and open windows. ### Two Gloucester Firefighters
Graduate from State Academy Gloucester Fire Department Eric Smith, Fire Chief 8 School St. Gloucester, MA 01930 For Immediate Release Monday, Dec. 18, 2017 Contact: John Guilfoil Phone: 617-993-0003 Email: john@jgpr.net Two Gloucester Recruits Graduate from Massachusetts Career Recruit Firefighting Class #259 GLOUCESTER and STOW Chief Eric Smith is pleased to announce that two new members of the Gloucester Fire Department have graduated from the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy and are now prepared to join their colleagues on shift with the department. Firefighter/Paramedic Alison DeMeule (Left) and Firefighter/Paramedic David Osier recently graduated from the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy. (MA DFS/Courtesy Photo)
The 39 graduates of Massachusetts Career Recruit Firefighting Class #259, four women and 35 men, represent the 22 fire departments of: Arlington, Athol, Auburn, Billerica, Charlton, Concord, Danvers, Duxbury, Falmouth, Gardner, Gloucester, Harwich, Lexington, Nantucket, New Bedford, Newton, Randolph, Revere, Salem, Saugus, Sharon and Truro. (MA DFS/Courtesy Photo) At a ceremony earlier this month on at the Department of Fire Services in Stow, Firefighter/Paramedic Alison DeMeule and Firefighter/Paramedic David Osier were celebrated for their successful completion of the intensive, 10-week state training program. Both firefighters were certified as Firefighter I/II and Hazardous Materials/Operations Level Responder. I am extremely proud of Firefighters DeMeule and Osier for their commitment to careers in the fire service, and the successful completion of the fire academy shows that our two newest members are fully prepared to protect the lives and property of the people of Gloucester, Chief Smith said, This rigorous professional training provides our newest firefighters with the basic skills to perform their jobs effectively and safely, said State Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey. The Massachusetts Firefighting Academy (MFA), a division of the state Department of Fire Services, offers this program tuition-free. Chief Smith wishes to express his gratitude to State Fire Marshal Ostroskey, Massachusetts Firefighting Academy Director David C. Evans, and Governor Charlie Baker for their support and for continuing to make the tremendous resources of the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy available to all fire
departments in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 39 Graduates from 22 Fire Departments The 39 graduates, four women and 35 men, represent the 22 fire departments of: Arlington, Athol, Auburn, Billerica, Charlton, Concord, Danvers, Duxbury, Falmouth, Gardner, Gloucester, Harwich, Lexington, Nantucket, New Bedford, Newton, Randolph, Revere, Salem, Saugus, Sharon and Truro. Guest Speaker: Truro Fire Chief Timothy Collins The guest speaker was Truro Fire Chief Timothy Collins, who is the first full-time fire chief for the town, has been in the fire service for 20 years and a paramedic for 27 years. He comes from a firefighter family. His grandfather was a lieutenant with the Boston Fire Department, his great uncle was a Cambridge fire chief, an uncle and cousin served the Arlington Fire Department and another relative serves on the Seattle, WA Fire Department. He holds a degree in fire science and is working towards a degree in leadership at Northeastern University. He offered the graduates some friendly advice on important qualities to bring to the job every day: integrity, professionalism, and compassion, as well as the need to constantly train to prepare to respond to the unexpected. Today s Firefighters Do Far More than Fight Fires Today s firefighters do far more than fight fires. They are the first ones called to respond to chemical and environmental emergencies, ranging from the suspected presence of carbon monoxide to a gas leak. They may be called to rescue a child who has fallen through the ice or who has locked himself in a bathroom. They rescue people from stalled elevators and those who are trapped in vehicle crashes. They test and maintain
their equipment including self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), hydrants, hoses, power tools, and apparatus. At the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy they learn all these skills and more from certified fire instructors who are also experienced firefighters. Students learn all the basic skills they need to respond to fires and to contain and control them. They are also given training in public fire education, hazardous material incident mitigation, flammable liquids, stress management, confined space rescue techniques, and rappelling. The intensive, ten-week program for municipal firefighters involves classroom instruction, physical fitness training, firefighter skills training, and live firefighting practice. Basic Firefighter Skills Students receive classroom training in all basic firefighter skills. They practice first under non-fire conditions and then during controlled fire conditions. To graduate, students must demonstrate proficiency in life safety, search and rescue, ladder operations, water supply, pump operation, and fire attack. Fire attack operations range from mailbox fires to multiple-floor or multiple-room structural fires. Upon successful completion of the Recruit Program all students have met national standards of National Fire Protection Association 1001 and are certified to the level of Firefighter I and II, and Hazardous Materials First Responder Operational Level by the Massachusetts Fire Training Council, which is accredited by the National Board on Fire Service Professional Qualifications. ###
Gloucester Fire Department to Host 4th Annual Blood Drive in Honor of Local Firefighter Gloucester Fire Department Eric Smith, Fire Chief 8 School St. Gloucester, MA 01930 For Immediate Release Saturday, Nov. 18, 2017 Contact: John Guilfoil Phone: 617-993-0003 Email: john@jgpr.net Gloucester Fire Department to Host 4th Annual Blood Drive in Honor of Local Firefighter
GLOUCESTER Chief Eric Smith is pleased to announce that the Gloucester Fire Department and Addison Gilbert Hospital will be holding the 4th annual community blood drive in honor of local firefighter Jason LoCoco. WHEN Wednesday, Dec. 6, from 12 to 5 p.m. WHERE Cruiseport Gloucester, 6 Rowe St. WHAT The Gloucester Fire Department and Addison Gilbert Hospital would like to invite community members to attend the 4th annual blood drive in honor of Jason LoCoco, a Gloucester firefighter recovering from injuries sustained from a serious motorcycle accident. We are proud to be hosting this event in honor of one of our own, Chief Smith said. I would like to encourage anyone who is eligible to donate blood to do so by joining us at this event.
To schedule an appointment, call 1-800-RED CROSS or visit redcrossblood.org. To expedite the donation process, residents can visit RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass to complete a pre-donation reading and health history questions on the day of the appointment. For more information about the American Red Cross, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS. ###