New Winthrop Police Chief Steve Rogers was sworn in, alongside new Winthrop Police Officers Vannessa Laflamme, Chris Miccichi, Christopher Finn, Geraldo Bendo, Mia Martucc?, Shawn Connolly, and Matthew Correale at last week’s town council meeting.
“It has been an honor to work with Steve and everyone in this building,” said outgoing Police Chief John Goodwin. “It has certainly been the honor of my life to just be one of you, so thank you.”
Rogers addressed the newly sworn in officers and told them to be proud of what they do and to make their families proud of them.
“I was reflecting on this journey, and I heard that there are a lot of people who are there when you enter the door that aren’t there when you exit, and a lot are there when you exit that aren’t there when you enter,” said Rogers. “But I just want to thank my wife for 34 years, for being there when I entered the door and hopefully …. when I exit.”
In other business, the council heard about White Cane Awareness Day, held this year on Oct. 15, which celebrates the achievements of individuals who are blind or visually impaired and honors the white cane as a vital tool for independence, freedom of movement, and equality.
At last week’s Winthrop Town Council meeting, resident and advocate John Morgan once again spoke about the importance of awareness for those who are blind or visually impaired.
“(The white cane) helps to identify a person who is blind to help navigate the city or town that he lives in,” said Morgan. “I am proud to come out each year to the council and the residents of the town. This is my sixth year and I am carrying on the tradition from Jerry DiFranza.
“Jerry was very strong in educating people on the white cane.”
DiFranza was instrumental in establishing the state’s White Cane Law, which updated the state’s pedestrian crosswalk law making it necessary for motorists to stop if they see someone with a white cane or guide dog attempting to cross the road.
Morgan said the white cane has been around for nearly a century.
“It may have changed a little bit, but it has always been white,” said Morgan. “Almost any country in the world that you go to, you see a white cane, that identifies a person who is blind or visually impaired.”
Morgan noted that Winthrop now has crosswalk devices that make it easier for people to safely cross streets and said he hopes that people will continue to use them as intended.
“You can’t just push the button and think a car is going to stop, you have to wait, because if a car is right up to the crosswalk, there is no way a car can stop safely,” said Morgan. “It is also the responsibility of the person with the white cane and the guide dog to obey the law also. We are not just going to step out and say here I am, you have to stop.”
Morgan noted that October is White Cane Awareness Month, with the awareness day on Oct. 15 and a state celebration at the State House on Oct. 23.
“We all know how much you cared about Jerry, and I’m sure he’s very proud of you carrying this mantle and taking it forward,” said Council President Jim Letterie.