The Legacy of Officer Vitale continues

Family members honor the Saugus patrolman’s in the line of duty death 40 years later with scholarship presentations

Three Saugus High School graduates from the Class of 2025 were among five area high school students recently named scholarship recipients from the Officer Harold L Vitale Memorial Fund, which honors the Saugus police officer, who was killed in the line of duty 40 years ago. Those Saugus High students honored last Saturday (June 14) during a special ceremony at Officer Vitale Memorial Park on Ballard Street were:

• Olivia Rianne Chaisson, the daughter of Dover Police Officer David Chaisson. Olivia plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Business at Bryant University in the fall.
• Dominic Paul Cicolini, the son of Saugus Police Detective Carmine Cicolini. Dominic plans to attend North Shore Community College in the fall to study Computer Science in a College Associate’s Degree Program.
• Daniel James Zeitz, the nephew of Saugus Police Officer David Zeitz. David plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration/Finance at the University of New Hampshire in Durham, N.H. in the fall.

Also receiving Vitale Scholarships this year were Conlan Nestor Buckley, of Revere, a St. Mary’s High School graduate, and Kiara Elizabeth Martinez, of Woburn, a graduate of Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational High School in Wakefield.

“We are excited to host our 33rd annual scholarship awards ceremony days before the 40th anniversary of his ultimate sacrifice on June 18, 1985,” said Les Vitale, brother of the late officer and president of Officer Harold L. Vitale Memorial Fund, Inc.

“This event provides us a great opportunity to provide financial assistance to the students and their families. For over 30 years we’ve hosted this ceremony at Park named after Harold where we pause to honor his life of service to the community and his sacrifice,” he said.

Another brother, Bob Vitale, a retired Transit police officer, noted that “hosting this event in June is special because it ties together Father’s Day as well as Flag Day June, 14th that happens to be Harold’s 82nd birthday and marks the 40th anniversary of his death making all of this and ideal time to celebrate milestones with these families like High School graduations and college acceptance decisions.”

“These 40 years have flown by, we are fortunate to still be hosting this event,” he said.

Eileen Vitale, wife of the late officer, called June 18 “the toughest day of the year for me.”

“As tough as it is, I love that we still do this to remember Harold. I love visiting The Memorial Park, the Reception is uplifting. I’m just so proud to give out scholarships. The charity work we continue to do allows us to support victim’s advocacy programs like the ones that helped me to cope with my loss,” she said. “These organizations do great work and we’d be nowhere without them so shout out to New England Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.), National C.O.P.S., the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (N.L.E.O.M.F.) and Citizens Behind the Badge. All are amazing organizations helping us to cope since 1985.”

Officer Vitale’s niece, Victoria Vitale-Bingham, and nephew, Nicholas Vitale, issued a joint statement: “Uncle Harold would have turned 82 this year, it’s pretty cool for us to be here handing out scholarships for what’s now been a part of us for our entire adult lives for nearly 40 years now.

“It was sad growing up without him, but having this Reception and our August charity golf event provides us an awesome way to remember him.”

Nicholas added, “every year we get to meet some of his retired co-workers and some of the current members of the department and hear them tell some cool stories about him and how that he was such a great guy. These guys have a tough job to do but we can tell how proud they are to come and show their support and respect for him as they all walk the Thin Blue Line every day.”

The Officer Vitale Memorial Fund, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) organization and was created in 1992 some seven years after Officer Vitale’s death. Officer Vitale was killed in the line of duty in the early morning hours of June 18, 1985, while attempting to make an arrest when he was dragged over 1,000 feet to his death. Officer Vitale was 42 at the time and married his wife Eileen where he lived in Ipswich with three children: Paul, Michelle and JacLyn. Officer Vitale’s badge #17 was retired upon his death. The Officer Vitale Memorial Park was constructed by the Town of Saugus in 1992 in his honor.

Registration for the 31st Memorial Fund Golf Tournament to be held Monday, August 4, 2025, at Ipswich Country Club.

Information submitted by Les Vitale, President, Officer Harold L. Vitale Memorial Fund, Inc. c/o Conifer Hill Advisors, LLC, 99 Conifer Hill Dr., Suite 202, Danvers, MA 01923 or visit on the web at www.vitalememorialfund.org