Malden City Councillors cite national unrest in calling for local response and creating policy to address potential issues

Malden Police Chief speaks strongly against proposal to oppose federal government agencies, policies

By Steve Freker

In a night where the debate included emotionally-charged words and jarring images, some members of the Malden City Council led an attempt to fashion a local response to the national unrest caused by recent tragic events in Minnesota. After a number of entreaties regarding a proposed Council order, the Councillors voted unanimously, 10-0, to refer the paper to further review by the Council’s Public Safety Committee. Voting in favor of referring the paper to the Council subcommittee were Councillors Peg Crowe (Ward 1), Paul Condon (Ward 2), Ryan O’Malley (Ward 4), Ari Taylor (Ward 5), Stephen Winslow (Ward 6), Chris Simonelli (Ward 7), Karen Colón Hayes (at Large), Michelle Luong (at Large), Carey McDonald (at Large) and Council President Amanda Linehan (Ward 3).

The focus of a Council order proposed by cosponsors Councillor McDonald and Councillor Winslow called for a definitive policy to be followed by the City of Malden regarding all city employees — including Malden Police — as it relates to federal employees and agencies. The crux of the proposed order was, “No city employees, departments, appointees, processes or representatives shall assist in fulfilling the unique and separate responsibilities of the Federal government, including immigration enforcement, or cooperate with any Federal agencies or policies contrary to the stated goal of this Order.”

Before any Councillors spoke on the paper, Malden Police Chief Glenn Cronin requested and was granted the opportunity to address the City Council after the docket item containing the proposed order was formally brought to the floor. Chief Cronin said the proposal was “unfair and unrealistic” as well as “unenforceable,” citing numerous examples of where the City of Malden’s needs and operational requirements “clearly intersect [with federal agencies and personnel] that help us protect our residents.

“The proposed order is not all appropriate and something that I nor my department can support,” Chief Cronin said. “We are guided by state Massachusetts General Laws, which dictate everything a [local] police officer may or may not do. Local ordinances are in place as well.”

“A categorical prohibition on assisting or cooperating with federal agencies risks intentionally impairing the functions that we need through our existing ties,” Chief Cronin added, in naming a myriad of federal agencies now in use — sometimes daily — by Malden Police, including the U.S. Secret Service, FBI, federal Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), Department of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms (ATF) and others.

“[This order] is unenforceable and does not make the city of Malden any safer,” Chief Cronin said.

In supporting the order presented on the Council docket, two City Councillors invoked a key catalyst event leading to the American Revolution, the Boston Massacre, likening that iconic historic event to the shooting death of a 37-year-old protester in Minneapolis on Saturday morning, January 24. After Chief Cronin spoke, Councillor Winslow, reading largely from a written statement from his Council seat, directly compared protests ongoing in Minneapolis to the American Revolution patriots of the 1700s, invoking the 250th Anniversary this year and the Boston Massacre. “We know we have a system of federal, state and local laws, but it is a right of our people to challenge the leadership of the federal government… just as they spoke out against a king, against despotism 250 years ago,” Winslow said.

“After the events in Minneapolis, with the public execution of Alex Pretti, we are facing some of the same dilemmas,” Winslow added. “The Boston Massacre…led our people into the American Revolution. Despotism moves stealthily. We have to be ready to stand up again. The Boston Massacre was just like the Minneapolis Massacre Saturday.

Winslow added, “We saw the video in Minneapolis; we would never want that to happen to a Malden Police Officer. We stand with [Malden Police]; we will work with you. Our Police Department is a shining example [that] a community as diverse and complicated as [Malden] can be safe.”

Following is the text of the proposed order:

“Order: That, as a diverse and immigrant-rich community, the limited resources of the City of Malden shall be fully dedicated to address the local needs and priorities of Malden’s residents, businesses and visitors. The goal of this order is to provide for a safe, livable and welcoming community for all. No city employees, departments, appointees, processes or representatives shall assist in fulfilling the unique and separate responsibilities of the Federal government, including immigration enforcement, or cooperate with any Federal agencies or policies contrary to the stated goal of this Order. This Order shall be followed to the maximum extent permitted by law, provided that it shall not require the City to break pre-existing contracts or agreements with Federal entities.”

Ward 4 Councillor Ryan O’Malley also related the Minnesota shooting to the American Revolution, while also noting the competency of the Malden Police. “I appreciate the task of the Malden Police, but the task is made more difficult when we have untrained ICE [U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement] agents making cities unsafe,” Councillor O’Malley said. “To see these amateurs tear down so much with so much effort [is frightening].”

“History will view what happened in Minneapolis as we view the Boston Massacre. We all have to remember our oaths,” O’Malley added. “If a [ICE] surge comes to Boston, we have to make sure there is no second Boston Massacre.

O’Malley then quoted from the iconic John Locke works of 1689, “Two Treatises of Government,” which, according to an online report, is a “foundational work of political philosophy that argues against the divine right of kings and establishes the basis for modern liberalism, asserting that government’s legitimacy comes from the consent of the governed to protect natural rights of life, liberty, and property.”

Ward 7 Councillor Simonelli first suggested the matter be referred to the Public Safety Committee, which is chaired by Councillor Condon. “People are nervous and scared, including a lot of residents of [Ward 7]. There are a lot more questions to be asked and we all have to work on this collaboratively,” Councillor Simonelli added, in successfully getting the matter moved to the Public Safety Committee.

Councillor McDonald, also a member of the Public Safety Committee, said, “I appreciate the conversation [about the order request] and there [is nothing] in this order to stop any work we do [locally] with criminal enforcement.

“We don’t intend any actions that would hamper our ability to conduct criminal investigations or to enforce the law,” Councillor McDonald said.

The next meeting of the Public Safety Committee had not been scheduled as of Advocate press time.