In an effort to highlight the progress that Fall River has been making in addressing public safety issues, Senator Michael Rodrigues hosted a Public Safety Forum on October 12, 2011 at the Advanced Technology and Manufacturing Center on Martine Street in Fall River. Prior to attending the evening Forum, officials from the Executive Office of Human Services and the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security were transported to the Department of Children and Families, the Youth Connection job center, Community Development Recreation, the Fall River Police Department and the Boys and Girls Club to learn first-hand about the many programs that help to prevent violence and the conditions that foster illegal behavior. The public was then invited to hear from officials and to ask questions relative to their concerns about public safety. The Fall River legislative delegation organized the forum to communicate to the citizens of greater Fall River how important state and city partnerships are in fostering effective community relationships, promoting environments of collective responsibility and making Fall River a safer place to live, work and raise a family. Click here to read the Herald News article. Click here to listen to a video of moving testimony about gangs. For more information, contact Senator Rodrigues' office at 617-722-1114.

(Top row, left) Fall River Police Chief Daniel Racine talks with Michael Coelho, Assistant Secretary of Policy and Planning for the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security while leaving the Department of Children and Families office on North Main Street. (Top row, right) Executive Office of Human Services Undersecretary Marilyn Anderson Chase listens to Youth Coordinator Beth Viveiros as Rep. Paul Schmid, Senator  Rodrigues, and Neighborhood Coordinator Perry Long listen at the Youth Connection. (Second row, left and center) Christian Berrios relates how he got into the YouthBuild program after Suzanne Cray of EOHS, Rep. Kevin Aguiar, Senator Rodrigues and Undersecretary Chase observe a gathering of YouthBuild recruits. (Second row, right) Ray Robinson is introduced to the delegation by Jamison Souza at CD-REC. (Third row, left) Youth Services Coordinator Christian McCloskey and Jamison Souza confer before the Public Safety Forum begins. (Third row, center and right) Undersecretary Chase outlines the reasons for the Commonwealth's investment in public safety programs before Police Chief Dan Racine responds to questions from the audience. (Bottom row, left) Michael Nhem responds to questions from the audience regarding his testimony about the effects that gang life had on his family. (Bottom row, center) Undersecretary Chase and Suzanne Cray listen as a senior citizen describes her fear of walking in city parks. (Bottom row, right) The audience listens to City Councilor Pat Casey as he talks about reducing crime by getting people out more to use the city parks and walk in the neighborhoods.