WAKEFIELD — The Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth (MPY) and the Pepperell Police Department are pleased to announce that MPY recognized Police Chief David Scott with the 12th annual Dr. Patrick A. Schettini Jr. Memorial Award last month.
Whittier Tech Superintendent Maureen Lynch and MPY Board of Directors Chair Judy Klimkiewicz presented Chief Scott with the award on Thursday, March 24, during a Massachusetts Chiefs of Police meeting.
The Schettini Award, named after the late Reading Public Schools Superintendent, is presented annually to a school superintendent, fire chief or police chief for their commitment to the health and safety of students in their communities.
The award recognizes Chief Scott’s passion for school safety in his home district, the North Middlesex Regional School District, and his regional leadership role with the Northeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council (NEMLEC) School Threat Assessment and Response System (STARS) team.
When he learned that the three towns in the district were approaching school safety differently, Chief Scott organized a group to train the district on a uniform lockdown procedure. He also assisted in coordinating a successful ALICE program, which offers a streamlined process for evacuations. He has served as an ALICE instructor on the district’s ALICE Executive Team for his past 12 years as chief.
“I would like to extend a sincere congratulations to Chief Scott for this award. It is very well deserved,” MPY Executive Director Margie Daniels said. “Safety is his top priority and he has worked tirelessly over the years to make schools a safe and welcoming environment for students.”
Additionally, Chief Scott joined STARS in 2015 as an Assistant Control Chief and assumed the position of STARS Control Chief in 2018. He has preserved in this role, despite being diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer in 2021.
STARS is comprised of police officers, firefighters and school staff that provide overall school safety awareness, school crisis planning, hazard identification, and training to member schools. STARS Task Force Teams respond to incidents, including school threats, reports of weapons and other school-related dangers. The group also includes Crisis Response Teams made up of school psychologists and counselors that support districts in incidents involving the death of a student or staff member.
Under Chief Scott’s leadership, STARS members were trained in School Crime Prevention through the Environmental Design and School Threat Assessment.
Chief Scott emphasized school safety as a team effort, both locally and regionally during his acceptance speech.He thanked his STARS Assistant Control Chiefs, Stoneham Police Chief Jim McIntyre and Merrimac Police Chief Eric Shears, for their overwhelming support since his cancer diagnosis.
“I sent an email to Jim and Eric from my hospital bed after being diagnosed, saying it was probably best for me to step down. But they wouldn’t let me quit,” Chief Scott said. “They said they were here to support me with whatever I needed to continue with the team, which is something I love doing.”
Chief McIntyre and Shears were present for the award ceremony, as were other members of the STARS team, to show their support for Chief Scott.
“I am honored to receive this award and I really do share it with so many people,” Chief Scott said.
About the Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth, Inc.
Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth, Inc. is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that provides training, fosters collaboration, and develops programming to increase the health and safety of students. MPY is committed to bringing cutting-edge information and high-quality trainings to constituents and endeavors to provide solution-oriented, community-based, multi-disciplinary approaches to reducing and ideally eliminating risky behaviors for youth.
Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth is governed by a Board of Directors made up of school superintendents, police and fire chiefs, and other community leaders who work closely with MPY staff to deliver this mission.
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