Page 6 - Q1 Newsletter

Meeting With the Colonel

The Museum requested that the MSP, through Colonel
On Thursday, February 22, 2018 members of the
Gilpin, issue authorization for any MSP items the
Board of Directors of the Massachusetts State Police
Museum has in its possession remain on permanent
Museum and Learning Center met with newly
loan from the Department. Colonel Gilpin was very
appointed Colonel Kerry Gilpin. The Executive
receptive to the idea and the Board has high hopes
Committee of the board, consisting of President
that after the Department’s legal team reviews the
Robert Cerra, Vice President Steven Byron, Treasurer
matter, the request will be completed. The MSP
Richard Belanger, Secretary Thomas Turner, Clerk
legal team was also presented and is reviewing
Matthew Guarino and the Executive Director, Charlie
documents and letters from the donors of numerous
Alejandro, were warmly received and invited into the
MSP antique vehicles in the hopes of turning them
Colonel’s office. Colonel Gilpin was accompanied by
back over to the Museum, now that a safe place
Deputy Superintendent, Lieutenant Colonel Barry
for their display and storage has evolved from the
O’Brien, her chief of staff, Detective Lieutenant Brian
original ideas of the Museum into an actual place.
O’Riordan, and a member from the MSP legal team.
The Board was pleased
to inform Colonel
Gilpin of the ongoing
efforts of the Museum
and its volunteers,
including its
temporary relocation
efforts, restoration
efforts of the original
Grafton Barracks
since fire damaged
the building and our
relationship with
groups like the Former
Massachusetts State
Troopers Association
and the MSP Wives.

The entire Board of Director’s extends its thanks to
As some people are aware, the Museum began as an
Colonel Gilpin and her staff for taking the time out
idea, not a place. Much of the Museums’ collections of
of their busy schedule to meet with representatives
MSP gear and historical photos and documents were
from the Museum. We would like to thank each
largely retrieved from dumpsters and trash bins;
member of the Department that contributes to
Outdated items no longer used in the daily duties
our efforts to keep the Museum and the history of
of the MSP. As such, the Museum has numerous
the MSP alive. We would also like to remind each
items that were once MSP property, and although
member of the MSP family that whether you have
the items are no longer on the supply books and
four years on the job or forty, are a Trooper or the
are largely forgotten after being discarded, these
Colonel, each one of us is a proud part of the 153
items still once belonged to the MSP, and the Board
year history of the Massachusetts State Police.
of Directors was seeking to ensure there would
be no conflicts concerning the ownership of these
historical items, photos and documents.

P age 6 F irst and F inest