Get well soon, Kevin! Popular Malden Police Animal Control Officer on the mend

Officer Alkins grateful for all of the Malden well-wishers who have supported him

  He has long been one of the community’s most recognizable and popular municipal employees.

   So it is no surprise that when Kevin Alkins got dealt a rough hand earlier this month, he got a pleasant surprise.

   What may have started as a trickle soon grew to a steady stream of well-wishers who showered him with messages of goodwill — and “get well” — after he unexpectedly ended up in the hospital.

     Alkins, who is in his 23rd year as Malden Police Animal Control Officer, was rushed to the hospital on Sunday, January 16 with a medical issue that caused him to undergo emergency surgery.

     For Alkins, it was a pair of “firsts”: The first time he underwent surgery and first time he ever stayed overnight in a hospital.

      It was five days at the Mass. General Hospital in Boston for recuperative purposes for Alkins, who was discharged on Friday, January 21, and is now resting at home, 12 days today after he was first stricken.

    “I am glad to be home and really happy I was at Mass. General (hospital). They took great care of me the whole time and I was able to come home a bit earlier than (the doctors) had originally thought,” Officer Alkins said.

    In addition to his caregivers at Mass. General, Alkins said he was especially grateful to all those who had sent “get well soon” messages via text message on the phone, by email… or through the old-school live phone call.

     The messages started coming in the first day Alkins was in the hospital after the surgery, and they have not stopped yet, nearly two weeks later!

    “I am so thankful to all those who took the time to wish me ‘get well’ when I was in the hospital, and right up to today,” Alkins told The Advocate on Wednesday. “It seemed like everyone I knew was contacting me…. and a lot of people I really didn’t know at all, or that well.”

    Alkins, who is well-known around the city as a gregarious, outgoing guy, always ready to help, was appointed as the city of Malden’s first full-time Animal Control Officer in 1999, during the administration of former Malden Mayor Richard Howard. Eventually the position was paired with the Malden Police Department by present Mayor Gary Christenson and throughout, Alkins has been one of the most visible city of Malden employees.

     “I grew up in Malden and I knew a lot of people in the city and around the area before I began working in this position,” Alkins said, “Now, it seems like I know everybody.”

    Since he was hospitalized, everyone from Mayor Christenson and the leaders of other municipal departments like Police Chief Kevin Molis, Fire Chief Bill Sullivan and DPW Director Bobby Knox, as well as dozens of city employees and regular Malden citizens both young and older have taken the time to send a kind word or note Alkins’ way.

    “It has been overwhelming and also very humbling to find out how many people there really are out there who care about you,” Alkins said. “It’s really gratifying.”

    Alkins said in his absence from his day-to-day job of keeping an eye on the well-being of Malden’s dogs, cats and other domesticated pets both in and out of their homes, as well as the city’s wildlife, “Several Malden Police officers have been taking care of my business and helping out since I have been recovering. I really appreciate that as well.”

    The Malden Police Animal Control Officer said he fully expects to be back on his feet and back to work in about three weeks. He can’t wait to be back on the job, he said.

   “I love my job and I love working in the city of Malden,” Alkins said. “All the good wishes that have come my way in the past couple of weeks makes me feel that way even more.”