Town Meeting had disabled patrolman’s back

Members voted unanimously to enact Home Rule Petition to boost the disability pension of former Officer Christopher Taylor administered by the Saugus Retirement Board

By Mark E. Vogler

Saugus Police Chief Michael Ricciardelli said he wasn’t taking anything for granted Monday (May 12) evening when he appeared in the second floor auditorium at Town Hall to advocate for a former patrolman who suffered a career-ending, on-duty injury nearly five years ago.

“I was getting ready to stand up and say a few words,” Ricciardelli said in an interview this week, referring to his anticipated testimony before the Annual Town Meeting on Article 28, which he sponsored to help boost the disability pension for a retired officer, Christopher Taylor.

Moderator Stephen N. Doherty asked if there was any discussion. Chief Ricciardelli was rising out of his chair with his hand raised slightly. But the moderator had already moved the article for a roll call vote before the chief could walk toward the lectern. Town Meeting voted unanimously, 43-0, to enact the Home Rule Petition, which had been recommended by the Finance Committee.

“I was a little surprised that there was no discussion, and that the vote was unanimous,” Chief Ricciardelli said.

“But I think that speaks volumes about the Town Meeting – that they have our backs and that they have Christopher’s back. It’s nice to get that show of support. Passing the article unanimously shows the town is not going to turn its back.”

Former Officer Taylor, joined by his wife Elizabeth and his mother Darlene, sat in the audience, alongside the chief, watching as each Town Meeting member voted for the article.

“He [Taylor] was very happy about the way things turned out,” the chief said.

“There weren’t any questions. I guess they were satisfied because we gave them a lot of information,” he said.

Serious injuries; emotional toll

Taylor was one of three Saugus police officers who were stabbed on Aug. 6, 2020, after approaching a psychologically impaired person. He had responded to Tuttle Street to assist the on-the-scene officers with a call for a stolen U-Haul.

“I received a large laceration to my left forearm which required over 20 stitches to close and suffered permanent nerve damage to my arm,” Taylor said in his impact statement, which was included in the material the chief submitted with Article 28. He said he was unable to lift anything that weighed more than five to 10 pounds or do physical labor for several months.

Taylor, who served with the Saugus Police Department from Jan. 30. 2017, to Aug. 6, 2020, said the incident also took an emotional toll on him. “I was having a hard time sleeping through the night; I would have recurring nightmares of this incident with visions of the suspect standing over me stabbing me repeatedly. I would wake up in cold sweats screaming for backup and help,” he said in his impact statement.

The two other officers recovered from their injuries. But a panel of doctors determined that Taylor will never be able to work in the capacity of a police officer again, according to the chief.

Taylor has received Accidental Disability Retirement since May 20, 2023. He receives 72 percent of his base pay. But it’s barely enough to support his wife and their three-year-old daughter Kaia.

Under legislation signed into law last year by Gov. Maura Healey, future police officer victims like Taylor are entitled to 100 percent disability benefits. “If his injuries happened tomorrow, he [Taylor] wouldn’t have to do a Home Rule Petition,” Chief Ricciardelli said.

Next stop: the Legislature

Passage of the Town Meeting article is the first step in a process that moves to the Legislature and ultimately the governor’s office. “We plan to reach out to the members of our Legislative delegation next, especially Rep. Giannino,” the chief said.

State Rep. Jessica Ann Giannino (D-Revere), whose legislative district includes Precincts 3 and 10 in Saugus, was the sponsor of House Bill 4746, An Act relative to disability pensions for violent crimes – the legislation that became law last summer. “As the daughter of a retired Police Sergeant, I know all too well the risks that our police officers face every day when they begin a shift,” Giannino said after the bill signing last summer.

“When I first met with advocates to discuss this legislation, and they shared with me that their families would have been better off if they did not survive each accident, it stayed with me. No family or police officer should ever carry that burden,” she said.

Taylor mentioned a similar financial dilemma in his impact statement. “I learned that had I died that morning, my family would have been financially taken care of,” Taylor said.

“However, because I was lucky enough to survive this traumatic ordeal, I am required to accept 72 percent (accidental disability retirement); The issue with this is that my injury was not an accident, in fact, it was a purposeful thought-out act, carried out by the suspect that could have easily resulted in my death,” Taylor wrote.

“To add insult to the injury, under the 72 percent ‘accidental disability’ I am capped at what I can earn should I get gainful employment in the future whatever that may be. So now, I am being financially punished for surviving a critical incident such as this.”

Chief Ricciardelli said he’s optimistic about passage of the Home Rule Petition and looks forward to working with the Saugus legislative delegation, which also includes State Rep. Donald Wong (R-Saugus) and State Sen. Brendan Crighton (D-Lynn).