Medford Happenings

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In this episode of Medford Happenings, host John Petrella interviews Lieutenant Charles Hartnett of the Medford Police Department to discuss the department’s robust community engagement initiatives.

Key Highlights:

About Lt. Hartnett: A third-generation Medford resident, Charlie serves as the day shift commander, a crisis negotiator, and leads the department’s Community Engagement Unit (1:43 – 3:00).

National Night Out: A major annual event aimed at building trust between police and the community. It features free food, games, demonstrations, and more. It is scheduled for Tuesday, August 4, 2026, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Hormel Stadium (3:38 – 7:36).

Community Programs: The department hosts numerous initiatives throughout the year to foster positive relationships, including:
Guns and Hoses hockey tournament (10:51)
Community Inclusion Day (11:15)
Video Game Day (11:38)
Junior Police Academy for 6th-8th graders (13:15, 28:35)
Various food/toy drives and Coffee with a Cop events (12:30)

Funding & Support: The department’s community engagement efforts are supported by a grant from the Cummings Foundation and contributions from local business partners like Wegmans and Target, rather than the department’s operating budget (20:59 – 23:05).

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