WEYMOUTH, Mass. — The Police Patrolman's Union in Weymouth cannot thank the community and other departments enough for what they did and are doing after the death of Sgt. Michael Chesna.
As they deal with this tragedy, they are also trying to get more help from lawmakers.
“[This is] one of the most difficult times a law enforcement agency can go through,” The Patrolman’s Union President Kenneth Murphy said.
And the support has continued to grow at the Weymouth Police Department.
“They’ve been coming to the lobby, they've been dropping off flowers and cards,” Officer Ed O’Brien said.
But the pain clearly lingers.
"I think it overwhelmed me -- the sense of family both in the Weymouth police and surrounding departments," Murphy said.
The Weymouth officers have been working together and with crisis managers to make sure everyone has what they need.
“In the past [...] everybody went out, grabbed some beers and drank away their problem and then came back and went back at it the next day,” O’Brien explained. “We found that that clearly doesn't work"
The heads of the Weymouth Police Patrolman's Union, who are dealing with the tragedy personally, say passing House Bill 1242, also known as the Peer Support Bill, would better help officers during any traumatic incident.
“There needs to be a component where we take the human being part of it,” said Murphy. “Put it in a separate area and manage that, because these guys and women have to go back to work after that."
Right now, they say there's concern some officers are holding back because the information is not completely confidential or that it could end up as part of a report.
“Knowing what they discuss in that briefing is private is going to allow more people to open up,” said O’Brien.
The Weymouth officers say right now, the support from the community and other agencies has been crucial.
“Which I was absolutely rolled over by,” O’Brien said. “From Hanover all the way to Braintree, there were people along the side of the road with flags and waving, hand over the heart."
But they want to build in more safeguards for police as time goes on.
“It is a valve. Are we willing to open that valve all the way for officers and let that outlet flow?” Murphy said. “Or are we going to keep it half way closed and restricted."
The new police training bill was just signed into law yesterday, which police say will better fund long term training goals.
MORE FROM BOSTON 25 NEWS:
- Weymouth Police Officer Michael Chesna posthumously promoted to sergeant
- Weymouth shooting: Police officer fatally shot, civilian also killed
- Vigil held to honor victims
- 'It's just very, very sad': Weymouth woman, 77, shot while sipping coffee
- Charity to help Sgt. Chesna's family pay mortgage
- Fallen Weymouth officer's cuffs placed on man accused of shooting him
- Whitman boy's lemonade stand raises over $1K for the Chesna family
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