Public safety pros leave lasting legacy
Institutional knowledge can only be replaced by time served, and that’s what three Twin Cities public safety professionals took with them when they retired last month.
Fitchburg’s Fire Department will miss the expertise of both Deputy Chief Gregg Normandin and firefighter Randall Doughty, while the Leominster Police Department lost the fulltime services of Richard Shea, a longtime detective.
Doughty had been a member of the department since July 1989 and the first driver of Engine 4 Group 2 formany years.
“Today Firefighter Randall Doughty celebrated his last shift on duty,” read a Jan. 13 Fitchburg Fire Department Facebook post. “After 34 years of commitment and exemplary service to our department and City, we wish Ffdoughty a happy and healthy retirement. Congratulations FF Doughty!”
Two days before another post honored Normandin, who began his firefighting career on March 4, 1986, rising to the rank of deputy chief “with many achievements under his belt.”
“He has always been a great wealth of knowledge for our department,” the post stated in part. “With his retirement, we lose a brother, and a mentor, with great knowledge and skill in our field…”
Fitchburg Fire Chief Dante Suarez said of the lifelong Fitchburg resident: “His knowledge, expertise and leadership will not be easily replaced andwill definitely be missed.”
Normandin said his “two most proud moments” during his time at Ffdwere “rescuing baby Joe froma fire in 1998 andmy dad pinningmy deputy chief’s badge on me in 2016.”
Normandin said he has plans to travel in retirement and will continue to work part time at themassachusetts Fire Academy, where he hasworked for the past 23 years.
Shea alsowon’t be completely severing ties with his employer, the Leominster PD, in retirement. The 27-year police department veteran said he plans to help out in the traffic division. Police Chief Aaron Kennedy also said the department will utilize Shea’s detective experience in background investigations on new hires.
The LPD also gave a shoutout to its newest retiree on socialmedia with a post on Jan. 12, recognizing Shea’s “final call” andwishing him“health, happiness and prosperity” in his retirement.
And given the media microscope placed on police due to rare, but outrageous examples of criminal misconduct, Shea offered some sage advice, especially for officers just beginning their careers.
“As you were trained, so shall you perform. Resort back to training and you will do fine that out there,” he said.
“Adapt and overcome. Being a cop iswhat youmake of it, and if you go in therewith a cleanmind and do the best of your abilities every day, you will do good.”
The newspaper would also like to salute these distinguished public servants in their retirement. The Twin Cities were a safer place on their watch.