RANDOLPH — Chief Anthony Marag is pleased to share that two Randolph Police School Resource Officers were presented last week with the Robert Nedder Citizen of Excellence Award, which is awarded to individuals who exemplify extraordinary attributes on behalf of the community in which they work or live.
Detective Kristen Gagnon and Detective Joao Santos were presented with the award at the Norfolk County Juvenile Court Law Day on Thursday, May 4 at the Dedham Juvenile Court.
Detective Gagnon has served with the Randolph Police Department for 25 years and has been the SRO at Randolph High School for nine of those years. Detective Santos served with the Randolph Police Department for four years and been SRO at the Randolph Community Middle School for one year. They were nominated for the award by Chief Marag.
Detectives Gagnon and Santos have been at the forefront of building bridges to connect with youth in the community. As SROs, they teach a first responder program through which they build and foster lasting relationships with students. In their roles, they provide guidance and support to school staff and administrators to ensure a safe school environment. They also conduct outreach, intervening and offering services to at-risk students and their families, and often follow up via home visits.
They support families in the schools by conducting fundraisers during the holidays, providing things like meals or toys. They are also essential to the success of the department’s initiative to acquire coats for students in need during the winter season and organize bags of essentials for those in need. They often donate their own time and money for these initiatives.
In his nomination, Chief Marag wrote: “I have witnessed firsthand their kindness, compassion, and empathy to others in times of need. I truly believe how they communicate and interact with our community has a positive ripple effect. Putting others first is the cornerstone of our mission statement of being ‘guardians of those in need.’ Detectives Gagnon and Santos are role models within the Town of Randolph and our police department. We are all better because of their selfless, dedicated service.”
This year’s Norfolk County Juvenile Court Law Day was held in partnership with Randolph High School. Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell was the keynote speaker. The event also featured remarks by the Hon. Linda Sable, Associate Justice of the Norfolk County Juvenile Court and the Hon. Joseph Johnston, First Justice of the Norfolk County Juvenile Court.
The theme for the event was “Cornerstones of Democracy: Civics, Civility and Collaboration.” Randolph High School students participated in an essay contest and an art contest related to the theme. The Randolph High School band and chorus also performed.