Mother of fallen Sgt. Gannon offers support
The mother of fallen Yarmouth police Sgt. Sean Gannon reached out to offer words of consolation to the loved ones and comrades of slain Weymouth officer Michael Chesna yesterday.
Chesna, a six-year veteran of the force, was fatally shot yesterday morning, and another unidentified woman was shot and killed by a stray bullet as police pursued the suspect. Emanuel Lopes, 20, of Weymouth is in custody and faces two counts of murder.
Denise Gannon, in a statement, offered condolences and frustration over the news of the death of another officer.
“Our hearts are broken once again for what can never be justified — the senseless violence that continues to occur because legislators and the court system fail to adequately support law enforcement and the innocent public by allowing dangerous criminals to remain in society,” she said in the statement released to news agencies.
Sgt. Gannon was shot and killed while executing an arrest warrant in Barnstable in April. Gannon’s K-9 was also shot.
Yarmouth police Chief Frank Frederickson told the Herald yesterday that Weymouth police have a long, hard road ahead as they come to terms with the killing of a fellow officer.
“It’s devastating,” Frederickson said. “You think of what that poor officer went through and as a chief, you think of the family and the difficulties they face. It’s tragic and it’s devastating psychologically.”
Frederickson said an officer’s death not only affects the department and the officer’s family, but the whole community.
But officers who have to cope with losing a comrade killed in the line of duty have a hard hurdle to get past. He said each officer responds differently in the coming months and should be offered services, depending on their needs.
“It changes your perspective,” Frederickson said. “Officers respond differently, and each are addressed differently. … It’s a long road.”
Frederickson also offered condolences to the Weymouth police.
“I just want them to know, stay strong and know they have lots of brothers and sisters behind them,” Frederickson said.