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Walpole cops set record: Town now has three female police officers on the force
By Anna Orlando / News Staff Writer
Wednesday, February 18, 2004
WALPOLE -- Selectmen hired two female police officers, bringing the total number of female cops in town to three -- the most the department has ever had.
"I think it's good that they hired more women, absolutely," said Walpole resident Karen Lichtenstein. "I don't know if the ratio (of male to female officers) matters, but if crimes occur against women, I would think women would be more comfortable talking to other women."
Selectmen have hired Maria Gonzalez, a former Taunton cop who was recently laid off, and Dorothy Mucciarone, Walpole's current part-time dispatcher.
Jackie Nay has been the only female officer in Walpole since she graduated from the police academy about eight months ago.
"Prior to her (Nay) being hired, it has been a number of years that we had a female (officer) and it was a void we felt we had to fill," Lt. Scott Bushway said. "We felt one (female officer) was not representative of our goals. We felt it was time to seek approval from the Board of Selectmen and the civil service to hire not one, but two, additional females."
"If the girls can do the job then I think hiring policewomen is just fine," Walpole resident Susan Pelletirer said. "I'm sure they're just as qualified."
The two newest cops in town have excellent qualifications, according to selectmen. They did not interview any other candidates.
Gonzalez, a Taunton resident, graduated from the police academy in March 1996. She has also been an officer in East Boston and Jamaica Plain.
"When I was in East Boston I worked every shift, did drug arrests, you name it, I did it," Gonzalez told selectmen during her interview.
Gonzalez transferred from East Boston to Jamaica Plain to be closer to her three sons, but then moved to Taunton to move her children out of the Boston school system, she said.
In Jamaica Plain, Gonzalez, who is fluent in Spanish, was the community police officer.
"I would go into businesses in town and everyone knew me by my first name," she told selectmen. "I like dealing with people; it's refreshing."
Gonzalez is working toward her master's degree in criminology at Boston University and plans to graduate in May.
Mucciarone has an associate's degree in criminology from Bunker Hill Community College and is a full-time dispatcher for the Massachusetts State Police in addition to being Walpole's part-time dispatcher.
"I love being a dispatcher, but I feel I am ready to take a more active role in criminal justice," Mucciarone told selectmen during her interview. She also told selectmen she worked as a park ranger and has attended a park ranger academy.
Mucciarone will have to graduate from the police academy before she begins work as a Walpole policewoman. Gonzalez is scheduled to begin work later this month.
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No offense to the women on this board, but this pisses the hell out of me that my hometown, the town i wanted to work for, a civil service agency, can go ahead and hire who ever they want, and get around civil service rules. I dont question their qualificatios, but when the selectmen appoint people who's most paramount reason for hiring was the fact that they pee sitting down only furthers the never ending frustration with mass police hiring politics. :sb:
Interview 2, hire 2.....I love it!!!!!!! :evil:
By Anna Orlando / News Staff Writer
Wednesday, February 18, 2004
WALPOLE -- Selectmen hired two female police officers, bringing the total number of female cops in town to three -- the most the department has ever had.
"I think it's good that they hired more women, absolutely," said Walpole resident Karen Lichtenstein. "I don't know if the ratio (of male to female officers) matters, but if crimes occur against women, I would think women would be more comfortable talking to other women."
Selectmen have hired Maria Gonzalez, a former Taunton cop who was recently laid off, and Dorothy Mucciarone, Walpole's current part-time dispatcher.
Jackie Nay has been the only female officer in Walpole since she graduated from the police academy about eight months ago.
"Prior to her (Nay) being hired, it has been a number of years that we had a female (officer) and it was a void we felt we had to fill," Lt. Scott Bushway said. "We felt one (female officer) was not representative of our goals. We felt it was time to seek approval from the Board of Selectmen and the civil service to hire not one, but two, additional females."
"If the girls can do the job then I think hiring policewomen is just fine," Walpole resident Susan Pelletirer said. "I'm sure they're just as qualified."
The two newest cops in town have excellent qualifications, according to selectmen. They did not interview any other candidates.
Gonzalez, a Taunton resident, graduated from the police academy in March 1996. She has also been an officer in East Boston and Jamaica Plain.
"When I was in East Boston I worked every shift, did drug arrests, you name it, I did it," Gonzalez told selectmen during her interview.
Gonzalez transferred from East Boston to Jamaica Plain to be closer to her three sons, but then moved to Taunton to move her children out of the Boston school system, she said.
In Jamaica Plain, Gonzalez, who is fluent in Spanish, was the community police officer.
"I would go into businesses in town and everyone knew me by my first name," she told selectmen. "I like dealing with people; it's refreshing."
Gonzalez is working toward her master's degree in criminology at Boston University and plans to graduate in May.
Mucciarone has an associate's degree in criminology from Bunker Hill Community College and is a full-time dispatcher for the Massachusetts State Police in addition to being Walpole's part-time dispatcher.
"I love being a dispatcher, but I feel I am ready to take a more active role in criminal justice," Mucciarone told selectmen during her interview. She also told selectmen she worked as a park ranger and has attended a park ranger academy.
Mucciarone will have to graduate from the police academy before she begins work as a Walpole policewoman. Gonzalez is scheduled to begin work later this month.
---------------------------------------------------
No offense to the women on this board, but this pisses the hell out of me that my hometown, the town i wanted to work for, a civil service agency, can go ahead and hire who ever they want, and get around civil service rules. I dont question their qualificatios, but when the selectmen appoint people who's most paramount reason for hiring was the fact that they pee sitting down only furthers the never ending frustration with mass police hiring politics. :sb:
Interview 2, hire 2.....I love it!!!!!!! :evil:
, they skipped over me and others to hire three minorities (2 were women). Things worked out eventually, I've worked on the old Capitol PD, Norwood PD and Now the MSP, Good things eventually come to those who wait. 
