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03-06-2006

Page history last edited by PBworks 17 years, 5 months ago


 

March 6, 2006

ROMNEY APPOINTS ROBERT C. HAAS AS SECRETARY OF PUBLIC SAFETY

 

Governor Mitt Romney today named Robert C. Haas as the Commonwealth’s new Secretary of Public Safety. Haas will replace Edward Flynn, who is resigning effective March 17 to become the police commissioner for the city of Springfield.

 

“Robert Haas has had a distinguished career in law enforcement and emergency management,” Romney said. “He will be a strong advocate for continued improvements within the secretariat, and his experience, professionalism and knowledge make him the right person for the job.”

 

For the past three years, Haas has served as the Undersecretary of Law Enforcement and Homeland Security, where he spearheaded many of the state’s homeland security initiatives. He oversaw development of the Commonwealth’s Homeland Security Regional Preparedness Strategy, an effort to improve how federal homeland security funds are spent to prevent and prepare for a terror attack. The program has awarded nearly $90 million in federal grants using a new risk-based approach that prioritizes areas facing the greatest threats and vulnerability.

 

Haas has also directed the development of Continuity of Operation Plans (COOP) and Continuity of Government (COG) plans to ensure continued function of essential government agencies and services in the event of a terrorist attack or other catastrophic event.

 

“I am honored by the confidence Governor Romney has placed in me and I look forward to furthering the many homeland security initiatives underway, seeing the reform efforts through at the Departments of Correction and Public Safety, and implementing other reforms necessary to protect public safety,” Haas said.

 

Romney praised outgoing Secretary Edward Flynn, who has served in the Governor’s Cabinet since the start of the Administration in 2003. Under Flynn’s leadership, with Haas’ support, the agency has focused on a “Reform with Results” agenda that has resulted in a number of notable improvements. Recent highlights include:

 

 

Improving the State Police Crime Lab to solve crimes faster. A doubling of lab space and the hiring of 33 new highly-trained technicians have resulted in a 50% reduction in the case backlog.

 

Top-to-bottom reform at the Department of Correction (DOC). Changes in operations and management have cut sick time usage by DOC staff, doubled the number of inmates receiving substance abuse treatment, and reformed the inmate grievance, disciplinary and investigations systems.

 

Turnaround at the Department of Public Safety (DPS), which oversees licensing and inspections. Strict new regulatory guidelines and requirements have made carnival and amusement rides, tramways and elevators safer.

As Public Safety Secretary, Haas will manage more than 10,000 people serving a variety of public safety agencies, boards, and commissions, including the Massachusetts State Police, the Department of Correction, the National Guard, the Department of Fire Services and the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency.

 

Haas, a career public safety professional, was Chief of Police in Westwood for 12 years and served as the President of the Metropolitan Law Enforcement Council, a consortium of 39 law enforcement agencies providing regional support services to their communities. Prior to this, he served as a ranking officer in the Morris Township Police Department in Morris Township, New Jersey.

 

Haas received his bachelor’s degree from William Paterson College of New Jersey and his master’s degree in Criminal Justice Administration from Rutgers University.

 


March 6, 2006

HEALEY PUSHES FOR PASSAGE OF ANTI-GANG VIOLENCE BILL

Community activists and concerned residents kick off grassroots signature drive

 

NEW BEDFORD– Lieutenant Governor Kerry Healey today joined local activist, Phyllis Lopes, to launch a petition drive and build support for an anti-gang bill pending on Beacon Hill. Phyllis is the grandmother of Cecil Lopes, who was murdered by gang members on Halloween night in 2004.

 

The signature drive, led by the Cecil Lopes Foundation, is part of a public effort to pressure the Legislature to pass an anti-gang bill currently stalled on Beacon Hill. To reach citizens across the Commonwealth, the Foundation created a website – www.endgangviolence.com – where visitors can add their name to support tougher laws that crack down on gang crime.

 

“Crimes go unsolved when witnesses fear retaliation and face intimidation in their neighborhoods and the courtroom,” said Healey. “For more than a year, there has been a bi-partisan effort to protect critical witnesses and put gang members behind bars. We are taking that message to the people in order to get the bill passed.”

 

Healey filed legislation to protect witnesses of gang crimes from dangerous or life-threatening situations over a year ago and has repeatedly called on the Legislature to send a bill to the Governor’s desk.

 

In December, Healey traveled across the Commonwealth to meet with law enforcement, education and civic leaders and discuss issues of gang violence. During a meeting in New Bedford, the Lieutenant Governor was inspired by Phyllis and her determination to put end to the violence plaguing her city. According to the Cecil Lopes Foundation, less than five percent of homicides in New Bedford have been solved in the past year.

 

Determined to move the anti-gang bill forward, Healey invited Phyllis to join her at the State House where they met with members of the Legislature two months ago. Since then, Healey has visited New Bedford to hear from concerned citizens and victims who have been caught in the crossfire of violent gang activity.

 

“We’re here today to make a difference in the fight against gang violence,” Phyllis Lopes. “We need to keep working together and through the leadership of the Lieutenant Governor and concerned citizens, we will make our streets and communities safe.”

 

As a criminologist and former consultant to the U.S. Department of Justice in the 1990s, Healey extensively researched domestic and gang-related violence as well as victim and witness intimidation, identifying measures to improve practices throughout the criminal justice system.

 


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