Page 15 - French and Electric Blue - Winter 2017-2018

locals’ having little food and water of their own. island.

One did not have to travel far to witness the Massachusetts State Police officers selected
extent of the damage to the landscape. You could for this important mission were:
drive for miles on hastily repaired roads and see
mile upon mile of downed utility poles, snapped in Wave 1: Sergeant Chris Sanchez, Troopers Ulises
half like twigs by the Mother Nature’s fury. Many Ayuso, Nelson Zayas, Alfred Burgos, Rafael
roads were reduced to one lane due to damage or Cezares, and Juan Colon. Travelling with them
debris making travel a challenge. Circumstances were officers from Boston, Chelsea, Holyoke,
were made worse as roads were clogged by Easthampton, Lowell, Peabody and Hampden.
motorists blindly seeking any services they could Wave 2: Sergeant Dean Clement, Troopers
find. Jonathan Arias, Luis DeJesus, Jose Depena, Gene

Hillside woodlands were flattened like Lawrence and Joe Hickey. They were joined by
cord wood, and the few trees still standing were officers from Boston, Everett, Littleton, Lowell,
completely stripped of foliage. Many homes were Waltham, and Worcester Police Departments.
observed without rooftops, some which ended Wave 3: Lieutenants Carmelo Ayuso and Bob
up on nearby hillsides or down ravines. One of Leverone, Troopers Bill Cameron, Chuck Luise,
the most striking images was seen as we made and Esmaily Santana. Joining them were officers
our final approach into San Juan’s Luis Munoz from Boston, Provincetown, Lowell, Waltham,
Marin Aeropurto. Looking down, one could see Newton, and Worcester Police Departments.
thousands of blue plastic tarps replacing missing
or damaged rooftops.

All three Massachusetts contingents were
billeted on the 540-foot Training Ship Kennedy
out of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy
(Wave 1 also spent nine days on the Training Ship
Empire State out of New York). The Kennedy also
housed hundreds of civilian relief workers as well
as officers from the Houston Police Department,
with whom we bonded like brothers and sisters.
Wave 3 was fortunate enough to obtain rooms at
the Hilton Villas in San Juan after the Kennedy left
port for Buzzards Bay on November 10. Despite
intermittent generator power and black mold in
the rooms, a real bed was welcome after having
slept in coffin-sized ship’s berths for a week.

Perhaps the most memorable and poignant Wave 3 in front of 400 year old fort, El Moro
moments were those where we handed out A big thank you goes out to those who
our own supplies of food and water to those in worked behind the scenes to make the mission a
desperate need. It was gratifying to all of us that success; Lieutenants Kevin Bibeau and John Fallon
we could help. Our only regret was not being of DHS; Sergeants Peter Cooke and Joe Albert and
able to do more. Despite fading from local news the guys at Supply; the Fleet Section, Troop F; the
headlines, the calamity in Puerto Rico remains folks at MEMA, Colonel Sanchez, Lt. Col. Garcia,
very real. Please remember the good people there Lieutenants Polanco and Rodriguez, Sergeant
in your thoughts, and consider donating to one of Heredia and other members of the Policia Estata.
the many charities supporting relief efforts on the

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