Town Officials Thank Foxborough Police Officers for Answering Call in Aftermath of Marathon Bombings

Foxborough police officers Scott Hodson, James Payne and Lt. John Hannon were each deployed to Boston last week as part of the region’s Metropolitan Law Enforcement Council to assist in the Marathon bombings investigation.

“They were all in there Monday night and stayed in for quite awhile,” said Town Manager Kevin Paicos. … “I will tell you they were, the two SWAT officers [Hodson and Payne] and John Hannon were right there in the thick of things [during the investigation] … they were right in the heart of everything going on. … All performed in an exemplary manner and made themselves proud and the community of Foxborough very proud.”

Paicos, an Army veteran and a National Guard Special Forces Operator, too answered the call to assist in the aftermath of the Marathon bombings.

“Yes, for a brief time,” Paicos said.

On Tuesday, members of the Board of Selectmen and Paicos each took time to thank the three Foxborough police officers involved in last week’s investigation and the many residents who are police officers for other towns that assisted in the aftermath of the bombings.

“A week later I think we probably still have the same sorrow, anger and angst about it but a week later I wanted to reach out and give thanks to the several Foxborough police officers who had gone over there on special forces to address it,” said Foxborough Board of Selectmen chair James DeVellis. “I was amazed at how many Foxborough residents who are police officers in different towns also went over there as well as the neighbors, businesses and churches who came together. … I wanted to say thanks to all the people who stepped up and offered community support.”

Selectman Lorraine Brue added the community should be thankful to the families of these police officers as well because of what they each had to endure “as they worried for their family members” to return home safely.

Selectman Mark Sullivan said his heart goes out to all the families affected by the Marathon bombings and thanked law enforcement for their efforts in the aftermath of the tragedy.

“It’s amazing what public safety personnel go through,” Sullivan said. “I can’t compare it to anything I’ve ever had to go through. … For the officers in Watertown, regular guys like our guys, that had to respond to that and some of them never even pulled a weapon out of their holster and had to do what they did and do it successfully is to the credit of them and the training these officers get. … I’m really proud of this community and all the other communities involved.”

Paicos read aloud a letter he wrote on behalf of himself and the Board of Selectmen to the officers Hodson, Payne and Lt. Hannon.

“In their capacities they were all called in immediately,” Paicos said. … “They wore their patches very proudly on their shoulders and were all proudly displayed. Of course they all did great work too.”

The following is the text of Paicos’ letter to the three Foxborough police officers:

Dear officer,

Please accept this letter of accommodation for your participation in the pursuit and eventual capture of the perpetrators of the recent acts of terrorism at the Boston Marathon.

Because of your actions and that of your brothers and sisters in law enforcement, two terrorists are no longer a threat to our community.

Every day police officers face mortal danger in completing their work. This simple fact goes largely unheralded and is poorly understood by the very citizens of the community you protect.

The recent terrorist events showcase the grave danger, which is an integral part of the work of your profession.

We join with you in mourning the death of your brother Sean Collier and we pray for the speedy recovery of Dic Donohue.

To say we admire you deeply would be an understatement of epic proportion. To say that we understand how you face such danger daily as that which we witnessed and as you do so with calm demeanor and professionalism would be for us a lie.

We are humbled by your example and we are hugely grateful but we must admit we cannot understand, but this we do know, it has been said that greater love hath no man than that he or she would lay down their life for others.

You express that love in the courage that fuels it every day and for that you have the admiration and love of a grateful community in return.