Region Roundup: Big Week for Stoughton Police; Fatal Car Crash; Car Drives Through Liquor Store

"From Worst to First" - Stoughton Police Department Achieves Accreditation

Deputy Chief Robert Devine and Accreditation manager Sgt. Tom Murphy were honored at a Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission conference on May 2, receiving the Stoughton Police Department's official accreditation plaque, which recognizes professional excellence in the field of policing.

Since Paul Shastany was sworn in as chief April 5, 2010, the SPD has been working towards accreditation.

"It was a goal of mine before I was appointed [chief]. When I was appointed it was a mission," Shastany said.

Prior to the May 2 ceremony, just 44 departments were accredited, with 10 from this group representing colleges and universities.

Devine called it the "culmination of a three year journey from worst to first."

"When the chief was hired we had been through a lot," Devine said.

Now, Devine said the department has "made the town proud of us [and] earned back their trust."

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Devine Named Stoughton's Deputy Chief of Police

The newly accredited Stoughton Police Department has officially filled its newly created deputy chief position. 

Steadily climbing the ranks of the Stoughton Police Department since his arrival in 1999, Robert Devine was appointed Deputy Chief of Stoughton Police on Tuesday.

Devine, who has in effect been Chief Paul Shastany's right-hand man while serving as Executive Officer, is now officially second in command in his new position. 

On the opening night of Stoughton's Annual Town Meeting last year, town meeting representatives voted to establish the position of deputy police chief. The state legislature also signed off on creating the position. 

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Stoughton is saddened at the death of 37-year-old Graig John Kowalczyk, who passed away Wednesday, May 1, 2013 at the Good Samaritan Medical Center in Brockton after a lifelong struggle with Muscular Dystrophy. 

He was the beloved son of former Stoughton Selectman John J. Kowalczyk and Mary R. (Power) Kowalczyk, a teacher at the West Elementary School in Stoughton.

Born in Quincy, Graig was raised and educated in Stoughton and was a 1994 graduate of Stoughton High School. He also attended Massasoit Community College in Brockton, and worked as a dispatcher at the Stoughton Police Department. 

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ABOUT TOWN: Stoughton's SAT Scores Ranked Towards Bottom of the Region

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education released the combined SAT scores of all of the 351 Towns and Cities in Massachusetts. According to a chart put together by the Boston Globe comparing SAT scores and home values south of Boston, of the 48 schools in our regional area, Stoughton High students finished 43rd, with a combined score of 1417.

Sharon was first with a 1775. The only places with lower scores than Stoughton were Avon (1304), Brockton (1289), Randolph (1309), Holbrook (1292), and Wareham (1375).

Other neighboring scores included Braintree (1612), Canton (1573), Easton (1601), Foxborough (1595), Norwood (1464), Quincy (1450), Weymouth (1494) and Walpole (1590).

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Canton Man Dies in Rhode Island Car Crash

Rhode Island State Police said a Canton man died late Wednesday night after suffering injuries from a car accident on Route 95.

RI State Police received several 9-1-1 calls around 11:10 p.m. on May 1 about a serious motor vehicle crash at the off-ramp of Route 95 and Route 113 in Warwick R.I.

According to police, Edwin A. McDaid, 46, of 24 Forge Pond in Canton, was driving a 2012 Jeep on Route 95 south and attempted to exit onto Route 113 at Exit 12A in Warwick, when instead he drove off the left side of the ramp through a patch of grass before rolling over onto the driver's side of the vehicle.

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No Injuries After Car Crashes into Route 1 Liquors in Foxborough

There were no injuries reported after a motor vehicle drove through the entrance of Route 1 Liquor Mart at 29 Washington St. in Foxborough last Saturday afternoon.

Police received a 911 call from Route 1 Liquor Mart at 4:51 p.m. April 27 reporting a car had crashed through the front of the building.

An off-duty Foxborough firefighter was on scene and reported the driver, an East Walpole woman, was out of the vehicle and not injured.

"Thankfully, no employees or customers inside the store were injured," police said. "The operator of the vehicle was also not injured."

Police said the operator of the vehicle was not impaired and "no criminal charges are moving forward at this time."

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Sharon Health Department Reminds Residents Dogs Not Allowed on Beaches

The Sharon Health Department is reminding residents that dogs and other animals are currently prohibited on the town's beaches.

Article 28 of the Sharon Board of Health prohibits dogs, horses and other pets at Veteran’s Memorial Park and Beach and the Community Center Beach from April 15 through October 15 of every year.

The intent of the regulation is to protect the health, safety and well being of the public and users of both beaches, said Sharon Health Administrator Bridget Sweet.

Those who violate the regulation may be subject to a $25 fine for the first offense, $50 for the second offense and $100 for any subsequent offense.

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