Oct. 6--SWANSEA, MA-- Swansea emergency personnel were prepared for the worst following a review of what was being said on social media and other means leading up to the planned demonstration last Thursday evening.
Police Chief George Arruda met with Fire Chief Eric Hajder to assess the situation and provide a compliment of people to address issues that could manifest themselves.
Town resident Mark Shane was planning a demonstration against those members of the National Football League and the New England Patriots who took a knee during the National Anthem on the previous Sunday. His public comments about the upcoming event and the threats from counter demonstrators resulted in Chief Arruda to prepare for the worst.
"I would rather be accused of having too many personnel there and nothing happen, than to have too few and have it go bad," Chief Arruda said. "There were threats against him directly and thanks to social media there was more out there. We had to prepare for the worst."
The chief met with Shane on Wednesday to discuss the situation and followed that up with a meeting with Chief Hajder. On Thursday, Chief Arruda and Lt. Gregory Ryan developed a plan that included closing off streets around the site at the corner of Gardners Neck Road and Main Street.
The chief noted that the plan was to protect all of the participants and those looking on as well as protecting town assets, including the School Administration Building across the street from the Shane home. Case Junior High School, the Brown School and Highway Department facilities are nearby as well as the senior and handicapped housing at Martin Court.
"Mr. Shane did not know how many people were going to be there," the chief said of the demonstration.
An estimated 150 people attended the demonstration, including some counter protesters who took a knee as the National Anthem was played by Shane.
The event started at 7 p.m. and lasted approximately 40 minutes. Officers began closing the roads at 5:45 p.m.
There were 13 officers on bicycles led by Sgt. Daniel Lowney and eight motorcycles from the Southeastern Mass. Law Enforcement Council (SEMLEC). Swansea is one of 36 communities that make up SEMLEC which had most been associated with a Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) unit but has expanded to include detective and patrols as well.
"There was no SWAT team there," Lt. Ryan noted.
Chief Arruda noted that there were two motorcycle officers at Gardners Neck Road and Rt. 6, three more at Hortonville Road and two motorcycle units at Elm Street and Main.
Due to a wake in progress at the Waring-Sullivan Funeral Home on Gardners Neck Road, two other motorcycle patrols were placed north of the Home.
Sgt. Richard Roussel was in charge of the traffic control.
In addition, there were two Swansea detectives and 10 from SEMLEC and there were 12 more Swanea officers at the staging area ready if needed.
Chief Arruda and Lt. Ryan were at the command center along with Sgt. Patrick Mooney and Officer Eric Thibault at the former police station.
The chief added that Sgt. Marc Haslam was at the station with two reserve officers in the event that multiple arrests had to be made. Another dispatcher was put on duty.
The Bristol County Sheriff's Department had two transport vans in the event of multiple arrests.
There were six officers on regular patrol that evening.
The chief added that Carl Sawejko and the Emergency Management vehicle were on site.
Chief Arruda was in the process of determining the cost of the additional coverage.
He noted that no one was hurt or placed under arrest and thanked the emergency personnel who helped make that happen.
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