Everett Police – Everett Leader Herald

Teachers’s union backs EPD in EHS

Helps maintain safe environment

By JOSH RESNEK

The Everett Teachers Union has backed keeping the Everett Police in the high school, where police have been aiding in keeping order and maintaining community relationships for two and a half decades.

Despite Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley’s call for defunding the police who serve inside the public schools, the ETU has held firm to its belief that more good than bad is done by a police presence at Everett High School.

“Our schools are provided an invaluable service by EPS Student Resource officers Lt. Tino Rozza, Sgt. Dennis O’Donnell, and Officers Pat Cassidy, Stephen Ramunno, Jillian Donnelly, and Eric Williamson are all an integral part of the EPS Schools Family,” wrote Kimberly Auguer, President of the ETA.

Auger said the police serve a valuable role in maintaining safety inside the high school not only for students, but for educators and for everyone involved.

Sgt. John Mazzie retires

A class act signs off after 33 years

**Everett Police chief Steve Mazzie and his brother Sgt. John Mazzie.** (Courtesy photo)

By JOSH RESNEK

On July 8, 2020, Sgt. John Mazzie put in his last day as an Everett Police officer.

Thus ended, a 33 year career on a police force that is a far different place than it was when he started out as a much younger man.

It is impossible for the uninitiated to understand just what it is like to sign away your life to serving the city of Everett in 1987, to putting on the blue uniform, and to remain whole and upbeat, proud and with his integrity intact, up to the day of his retirement in the 20th year of the 21st Century.

The revolution in policing continues during this summer of great discontent across the nation.

Sgt. John Mazzie has seen it all. He’s been through the trials and tribulations of being a police officer. He has come to understand the human predicament almost completely.

Mazzie started out as a Field Training Officer in the 1990’s.

Chief Mazzie proves knowledge is power

Police Chief Steven Mazzie’s appearance at the virtual city council meeting Monday night proved once again that having a humble, smart, savvy longtime police chief who knows what he is doing with the Everett police force is worth its weight in gold.

He answered Councilor at Large Gerly Adrien’s questions about the police department’s various policies regarding report- ing police violence against residents, the use of choke holds (which have been banned since the 1990’s here) and annual training parameters to meet the demands of the new age that appears to be upon us.

Without raising his voice or batting an eyelash, Mazzie answered the councilor’s questions like the consummate professional he has always shown himself to be.

He is a very hip guy, who firmly is in command of a first-rate police force that knows the laws and follows them.

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Deadly force and the police

During the past decade, nearly every relevant police statistic that is kept in this city has seen a marked decline across the board.

Under the able, enlightened and intelligent leadership of Police Chief Steven Mazzie, the city boasts a responsive, loyal to the job, effective police force.

We call. They come. No matter what it is – a fact made especially obvious during the pandemic, when responding to your danger puts the police in greater danger as well.

Civil rights law suits and violations have been almost non-existent as have been claims of police violence against residents during the past decade.

Training and education for police officers on the force has never been more vigorous.

The police budget is where it ought to be for a community of Everett’s size and varied needs – and for public emergencies that pop up from time to time.

Defunding the Everett Police Department budget would be a mistake.

Why?

Because policing this city requires a certain amount of respect, force, compassion and understanding. This does not include defunding or putting the EPD out of business as we know it today.

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Captain Rick Basteri

The death last week of Everett Police Captain (retired) Rick Basteri is a terrible loss for his family and for the many people of this city who regarded him as a friend and protector.

He had recently retired, so his death at such an early time in his retirement makes the loss that much harder to bear.

The city has changed dramatically since he was sworn in in 1983. The city is a far different place today than it was back then.

Captain Basteri was not one of those who failed to change with the times since the day he began almost four decades ago.

He changed with the times. He understood his role. He was always fair and kind to those who he met during the discharge of his duties.

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