Rafferty officially sworn in as Canton’s 1st female chief

Helena Rafferty is sworn in as police chief by Town Clerk Tracy Kenney. (Cynthia Rosina photo)

With hundreds of friends, family members, fellow officers, local dignitaries and well-wishers behind her, a proud Helena Rafferty was sworn in as Canton’s 14th chief of police on a picture-perfect evening last Tuesday, June 14, on the grounds of the Paul Revere Heritage Site.

Rafferty is the first female in the town’s history to be appointed chief, but outgoing Police Chief Ken Berkowitz said that distinction is merely a bonus for an officer who was hands down the best candidate for the job.

“She is the best police officer, the best leader, and a great administrator who also happens to be a woman and that’s why she got the job,” said Berkowitz.

Select Board Chair John Connolly, who has followed Rafferty’s career since she was hired as a patrol officer, knew right away that the department had its successor when Berkowitz announced his retirement plans in March. “We had the right person here; there was no need for a national search,” said Connolly, who described Rafferty as honest, hardworking and compassionate.

As she took to the podium at Tuesday’s ceremony, Rafferty said she was “speechless” at the size of the crowd and thanked all of those in attendance who had helped make that moment possible.

She also thanked the Select Board for allowing her to choose both the date and venue for her swearing in and reflected on the significance of each. “When my mother, who passed away last August, immigrated to America, she got her first job at the Plymouth Rubber factory, which was located on this parcel of land,” Rafferty explained. “And the brick building to the rear of me used to be the joint Police and Fire department. That is where my father and Godfather served as police officers.”

Rafferty said she chose to have the event on June 14 because it was Flag Day, as well as the birthday of the U.S. Army. “To all of the selfless veterans in the crowd, nine of whom are members of the Canton Police Department, thank you so much for your service and sacrifice to our nation and our flag — a symbol to each of us of the best this nation has to offer,” she said.

While acknowledging the “unfavorable light” shone on the police profession in recent years due to the actions of certain officers, Rafferty said Canton is fortunate to have “good officers” — the kind who “will run into school buildings [with] no hesitation whatsoever” and who, in recent weeks, have “placed themselves in peril, taking five guns and illegal drugs off our streets.”

Rafferty announced that one of her first initiatives as chief will be to have the number 1440 added to marked CPD vehicles. “It represents the one thing that every person on earth indisputably has in common,” she said. “We each have only 1,440 minutes in a day to make a difference.”

During the pinning ceremony, Rafferty was surrounded by her children: sons Declan, Aidan and Colin and her daughter, Breslin, who sang the National Anthem.

Leading the pledge of allegiance were the children of several Canton officers, including Ella and Lilah Anderson, Mikaela Becker, Logan Galanis, Hannah and Tommy Healy, and Bobby Zepf.

The ceremony also featured invocational messages from Canton clergy members Rev. John Tamillio of the Congregational Church of Canton; Pastor George Irabor of Fountain of Grace; Rabbi David Winship of Temple Beth David; Rev. Rachel Waldman of Trinity Episcopal Church; Rev. James Ojo of St. Oscar Romero Parish; Pastor Borneon Accime of Tabernacle of Glory; and Rabbi Mendy Horowitz of the Chai Jewish Center.

Also in attendance were former chiefs Peter Bright and Jack Ruane, who both mentored Rafferty; Norfolk County District Attorney Michael Morrissey; state Rep. Bill Galvin; representatives from the State Police and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); and members of the CPD Honor Guard and Boston Gaelic Column.

See this week’s Citizen for more coverage of the chief’s swearing-in ceremony and selected excerpts from her speech. Click here to order your subscription today.

Share This Post

Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=87680