PROBATION OFFICERS TO MAINTAIN PRESENCE AT
HIGH SCHOOL SUPERBOWL TOURNAMENT GAMES

For the second year in a row, Probation Officers will maintain a presence at the statewide High School Superbowl Tournament games as part of the PEACE Partnership Community Probation Initiative.

The PEACE Initiative — which is an acronym for Probation Enhancing Athletic Climate Excellence — is an alliance between the Office of the Commissioner of Probation (OCP) and the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA).

Under the PEACE Initiative, probation officers are assigned to a tournament safety team at the stadiums where the Superbowl games are played. Other tournament safety team members included site supervisors, school administrators, teachers, stadium security personnel and local police.

Last year, more than 200 Probation Officers turned out to maintain a presence at the games. Several alcohol-related arrests were made and a probationer was apprehended by police on an outstanding warrant. Probation Officers were also on hand last year at basketball games.

“The PEACE Project was hugely successful last year, the first year of the project. We are confident that we will be able to replicate this success with the help of Probation Officers,” said Steve Fratalia, Director of Resource Management and the Office of the Commissioner of Probation.

PEACE Project Tournament season kicked off yesterday with the Eastern Massachusetts High School Playoffs or semifinals. Super Bowl games will take place on Saturday, December 3rd. Central Massachusetts and Western Massachusetts Super Bowl games will take place at Roberts Stadium in Holyoke and feature Divisions: 1, 2, and 3A. Division 4, O’Bryant vs. Southeastern, will take place in Arlington at a time and location to be announced. Divisions 1A, 2A, and 3 will compete at Worcester State.

The following is the Superbowl Saturday line-up:

Superbowl Saturday, December 3

Central Massachusetts/Western Massachusetts at Roberts Stadium, Holyoke

Division 1: Leominster vs. Longmeadow, 2:30; St. John’s vs. Minnechaug, 5.

Division 2: Wahconah vs. Holy Name, 12:30.

Division 3A: Assabet vs. Easthampton, 9:30 a.m.

Superbowl at Worcester State

Division 1A: South Hadley vs. Milford, 3.

Division 2A: Auburn vs. St. Joseph’s, 12:30.

Division 3: Narragansett vs. Putnam, 10 a.m.

Division 4: O’Bryant vs. Southeastern at Arlington,TBA.