Hingham PD's new special needs officer fills a vital role, chief says

HINGHAM, Mass. — The Hingham Police Department has an officer assigned to a new role, and members of the special needs community couldn’t be happier.

Officer Dan Murphy is now the department’s special needs officer, a unique role with many challenges.

One of the first things Murphy plans to do in his new role is organize and update a voluntary database with names, photos, addresses, emergency contacts and unique challenges of all Hingham residents with special needs.

“When [officers] arrive on scene, that unknown is removed. I’m arriving no blue lights, no sirens this child has autism,” he said.

Diane DeNapoli’s youngest son is on the autism spectrum. She and others from the South Shore Special Needs Athletic Partnership have built a relationship with the community that helped lead to the new position.

“I think it’s very important for a child like my son Patrick to understand Police are your friends and not to be scared of them,” she said. “It’s wonderful for police to interact with our children on a regular basis and not just in a crisis moment and vice versa.”

Hingham Police Chief Glenn Olsson said Murphy’s new role is also about helping other officers learn about how to handle situations with special needs individuals.

“We need to educate them on what the special needs are out there and more important how to respond to them like what are some of the tactics an officer would use when they want to talk with someone with special needs,” he said.

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