SUFFOLK COUNTY JUVENILE PROBATION OFFICER
MAKES IMPACT ON STREETS

Suffolk County Juvenile Court Probation Officer Kevin McClerklin recently assisted Boston Police with the removal of a firearm and a large quantity of drugs off the streets.

McClerklin, a seven-year probation officer at Suffolk Juvenile Court and member of the Operation Impact team, discovered the drugs, marijuana packaged for sale, and weapons, a loaded black handgun and ammunition, during a routine home visit to a probationer's home. The offender, considered a "high-impact" or gang-affiliated youth, was arrested. He was later surrendered in Suffolk Juvenile Court and held without bail due to probable cause. The offender was found to have violated his probation.

Assistant Chief Probation Officer John Turner, McClerklin's supervisor, lauded the probation officer.

"This arrest is yet another example of the significance of the partnership between the Massachusetts Probation Service and the Boston Police Department," Turner said. "I have been P.O. McClerklin's supervisor for the past 14 months. During this time, he has demonstrated a hard work ethic by undertaking added responsibilities by working on successful programs such as Nitelite and Operation Impact."

McClerklin said of his discovery and brush with danger, "No home visit is routine when dealing with violent offenders that have serious prison sentences hanging over their heads or who may suffer with severe mental illness. This whole situation could have been very different due to the violent nature of this defendant."