Page 12 - FE Blue Summer 2019 Final

Museum help the Museum continue to grow. Board members
and all staff are all unpaid volunteers; all proceeds
(Continued from Page 11) from admission, donations and gift shop sales directly
support the Museum’s mission to collect, preserve,
excellence, and were the ones who always answered and share the MSP’s history and expertise.
the call to maintain public safety in so many different
forms over the years. This dedication resonated with The Museum is always on the lookout for additional
me, and I wanted to be part of preserving that history volunteers, and of course, ongoing financial support
and to contribute to that legacy throughout my career.” is needed and gratefully welcomed. The Board notes
that the facility provides a rewarding volunteer op-
He began volunteering at the Museum following the portunity for anyone interested in history, education,
fire, and for his first task designed a display of the 42 marketing, antique vehicle maintenance, collections
Massachusetts State Police and Metropolitan Police management and preservation, and even graphic or
officers who were killed in the line of duty. He subse- interior design.
quently attained a seat on the Board of Directors, and
that eventually led to his election as Vice President. Department members can contribute financially to the
Museum and Learning Center’s initiatives through the
Bernstein points out that the Museum’s offerings don’t Payroll Deduction Plan, where a small tax deductible
end with its impressive artifacts. Just as the Officers donation is made each pay period (a donation form is
and Board continue to work to grow the collection, the available on Docushare for sworn and civilian mem-
classroom component of the Museum continues to bers). Department personnel, retirees, and any history
expand, as it has hosted events about careers in pub- buff can also contribute through the donation of pho-
lic safety, law enforcement, science, and technology tographs, artifacts, memorabilia or historical uniforms
disciplines for young people. for the collections.

“Most members of the public do not realize the “Sadly, many artifacts, badges, handcuffs, motorcy-
wide-ranging responsibilities of the State Police cles, cruisers, uniforms, and firearms have fallen into
past and present, as their only visibility is usually private ownership or have been lost through fire or
our uniformed Field Services Division,” Lt. Bernstein negligence,” Board member and retired Lieutenant
said. “This year our Learning Center offered more Colonel Guilmette noted. “And because of a lack of
than 10 different short courses to youth, relating law funding, many of these artifacts will be lost forever.
enforcement procedures to the Massachusetts K-12 We need your financial assistance. We cannot exist
Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) without it. For active troopers, we need your week-
curriculum. Those youths who participated, and their ly contribution made though the employee payroll
parents, were able to see how their primary educa- deduction program. For our retired members we still
tion correlates to possible future careers in various need your financial support through a donation made
criminal justice fields, and the events foster positive directly to the museum. Together, we can preserve
police-community relations.” our history of service to the citizens of the Common-
wealth.”
The Museum plans to continue hosting book signings
for MSP authors, and thus far has hosted readings by The Massachusetts State Police Museum
Lieutenant Colonel Guilmette, Lieutenant (ret.) James and Learning Center is located at 308
Redfren, and Lieutenant (ret.) Mike Conti of their Providence Rd., South Grafton, and
works.
is open for visitors Tuesdays from
The Museum and Learning Center doesn’t just keep 11a.m.-2 p.m. and the second and fourth
it in house, either. Over the last year, the organization weekend of every month from 12 p.m.-
has committed to its own version of Antiques Road- 3 p.m. Special group tours can be
show, taking its Mobile Museum and antique cruisers
on tour around the state and beyond. accommodated by advance appointment.
Five active MSP members serve on the Museum’s Check out their website at www.mspmlc.
current Board, as do several retired members from org or “Like” them on Facebook (www.
the ranks of Trooper through Lieutenant Colonel, facebook.com/MSPMLC) to see the latest
assisted by several other interested community mem- news and special event schedules.
bers who selflessly give their time and experience to
12 French and Electric Blue