A Message from Chief Solomon:
Earlier this week, the Methuen Police Department was made aware of a rally organized by community members to show support and appreciation for police officers.
The Methuen Police Department did not organize or coordinate this event and was not involved with the planning. Like any other public rally, the department worked with the organizers to ensure safety and minimize disruptions to the community and traffic. The group informed the department they planned to drive by the police station at approximately 6:15 p.m. Wednesday to thank our officers. The rolling rally lasted approximately two minutes and drove by our police station without incident. No one from the event stopped at the police department.
After the event, the Department was made aware that one of the vehicles in the rally was adorned with several politically-charged signs. The association of this vehicle and the rally with the police department has led to understandable anger from several residents.
The Methuen Police Department does not associate itself with or endorse politically-charged or divisive language. We are disappointed that what the organizers told the department was intended to be a positive, community-building message of support for the members of the department was instead overshadowed. We apologize that an event intended to support police has instead made anyone feel unwelcome or unsafe.
The Methuen Police Department does not avow itself to the misguided doctrine of “all lives matter” and we denounce the statement “build the wall” as it is a clear attack on immigrant families. The Methuen Police Department does not concern itself with a person’s immigration status when it responds to save a life or stop a crime in progress.
We have been listening and continue to listen to our citizens and we want you to know, we hear you. Members of the department attended Thursday’s Listening Event and were moved by the honest and heartfelt statements of our community members.
We thank our community for their support, partnership and dialog.