Stoneham Police Take Part in Search and Rescue Simulations

Photo captions: Sergeant Tom Heller (front) participates in the drill. Courtesy photo.

Members of the Stoneham Police Department took part in two search and rescue simulations in the Middlesex Fells Reservation earlier this month.

According to Police Chief James McIntyre, who was at the command post an an observer for the exercise:

“The exercises were conducted in order to improve response to an actual missing person event and to reinforce emergency communications and operative procedures among municipal, regional, and state public safety agencies.

“Lieutenant Alan Zani, the commander of the Medford State Police barracks contacted the Stoneham Police Department about participating in the exercise. Sergeant Tom Heller and Officer Luc Bourgeois from the Stoneham Police Department participated in the exercise along with members from the Stoneham Fire Department, the Department of Conservation and Recreation, Winchester Police Department, Massachusetts State Police Area Headquarters, Air Wing, K-9 and Medford Police Department.

“The goal of practicing these drills is to get the public safety departments to work in collaboration in order to improve our response to a real missing person event. It is vital that the simulation is as close as possible to a real case to insure officers will be well prepared,” he said.

“Officers participating in the exercise were only told to expect a training exercise for the specified date and time, to dress warmly, to have their batteries charged, and to be prepared.

“For the first drill, Trooper Michael Caggiano of the Medford State Police barracks, posed as a victim lost in the woods. He called the State Police dispatch center, identifying the call as a drill and presented himself as a party lost in the woods by the Sheepfold Area of the Middlesex Fells Reservation. Trooper Caggiano answered all questions as if he were a real missing person, providing personal information, the location of his vehicle, and the fact that he was physically well and ambulatory.

“Following completion of the first drill, Trooper Caggiano immediately moved into place for the second simulation, in which he pretended to be injured with a broken leg, weak, and not ambulatory, again providing his personal information and the location of his vehicle.

“After successfully completing both drills, participating agencies met at the Medford State Police Barracks for an after action meeting to discuss what went well and what officers could improve on for a real situation.”