Police Chief Patrick Dillon proposed to selectmen Monday night that the Town House’s “panic button” system installed in 2003 might be upgraded to a new digital system with 10 panic button units, to expand coverage to all of the Town House meeting rooms and offices. The chief expects the cost of the system to be less than $1000 for installation and about $100 per year for monitoring.
Panic buttons in general enable users under duress or in the event of an emergency to immediately and silently call for help.
This action was in response to a belligerent and hostile person who attended a committee meeting last week. After heckling the committee throughout the meeting, the individual waited for members to leave the meeting room at the close of the meeting, then waited in his car for members to drive away from the lot.
Chief Dillon, in a follow-up conversation with The Express on Wednesday, suggested that all residents, town boards and committees, call 911 if they feel uneasy or threatened by anyone at any time. “That is what we are here for,” he said. “Pick up the phone, call us, and we will figure things out and keep them safe.”