Lowell and Boston Probation Officers Help Remove Firearms,
Drugs, and Violent Offenders off the Streets

Recently, Probation Officers in the cities of Lowell and Boston were instrumental in locating and removing from the streets guns and ammunition, marijuana, and a violent offender who had violated a restraining order.

Lowell District Court Assistant Chief Probation Officer Steven Mastandrea and Probation Officer Frederick Clark teamed up with the local police as part of the "Safety First" Program. The team was in Lowell's Highlands area to check on a probationer during the evening of June 14th when they discovered the butt of a Winchester 30/30 caliber rifle sticking out a duffel bag. The gun had an obliterated serial number.

"This is yet another example of how a program like Safety First partners Probation with police and can be successful in providing more community supervision to help ensure public safety," said Mastandrea.

The offender, who denied owning the gun, was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, and unlawful possession of a firearm with a defaced serial number.

Some 23 miles away, Probation Officers from Boston Municipal Court-Roxbury, Sara Cohen and Paul Shaughnessy, ran into a probationer, who according to the terms of his probation is subject to random and unannounced home visits, at a gas station in Jamaica Plain. Cohen and Shaughnessy proceeded to the individual's home for a home visit. Upon inspecting the offender's home, the Probation Officers discovered a shotgun and live ammunition in a red duffle bag stashed under the offender's bed in his basement apartment. Cohen and Shaughnessy took physical possession of the gun and ammunition and escorted the offender to the District Two Police Station where he was placed under arrest by Boston Police. The Probation Officers turned the gun and ammunition in to police.

Two weeks later, BMC-Dorchester Assistant Chief Probation Officer Michael Branch and Probation Officer Helen Harrington discovered marijuana in the home of a probationer during an address verification visit. (for full story, read press release: "BMC-Dorchester Probation Assists U.S. Secret Service In Closing Down Counterfeit Operation") Branch and Harrington first detected the odor of marijuana when the offender greeted them at the door. After entering the probationer's bedroom, they found loose marijuana and marijuana cigarettes in plain view.

As Branch contacted the local police to report what he found, the offender jumped head first out of the second floor window, striking the roof gutter, hitting the ground and then fleeing down the street, according to Branch and police reports. After a foot chase by Boston police who responded to the scene, the probationer was apprehended and taken into police custody. The offender was later charged with possession of a Class D substance with intent to distribute in a school zone.

"It's proven, home visits work. They give you a true sense of an individual, their living arrangements, their associations and some of their good and bad habits," said Branch. "Anyone can win an Academy Award with how they portray themselves when they come for an office visit. But, when you go unannounced, knock on their door and go into their home, you get a full picture of who they really are."

On the same day, BMC-Dorchester Probation Officer Jason Wirth found a probationer at the address of a woman who had taken out a restraining order against the man. The woman was not at home at the time. The probationer was placed under arrest by the police

"The arrest of this violent offender, who was on probation for a firearm, brought relief to the family he had been terrorizing," Wirth said. "I was fortunate enough to take the necessary action of the violations. It cannot be stressed enough that probation officers need to be active in the field checking on probationers and building partnerships with law enforcement; especially violent offenders."