Residents hail ‘incredible’ police work at Savin Hill beaches, park

More than a year after a concerted effort between neighbors and public safety officials began working to stem the influx of drugs and crime in Savin Hill, residents say they have seen a significant improvement.

At a neighborhood watch-sponsored patrol of the area’s beaches and boardwalk, a small group of neighbors reported that cooperation between the police and local residents has made a difference.
The walk was a part of the National Night Out crime watch effort.

Savin Hill crime watch leader and Grampian Way resident Peter McNamara said the joint effort between the Boston and State Police, which in the past have clashed over jurisdiction of local beaches, has resulted in a “complete 100 percent turnaround” for the neighborhood.

“The police have been absolutely incredible,” McNamara said. “It’s amazing what can be accomplished when people actually work with the city and with the police department.”

In an email promoting the walk, McNamara noted the “fantastic job” police have been doing to squelch the late-night activity at the beaches and Savin Hill Park’s basketball courts.

“There was a problem starting at the beginning of the summer; it was very unpleasant,” said John Moran, who also lives on Grampian Way. “There were groups coming in [to the park and basketball courts], kicking people out, threatening, leaving their garbage around,” Moran said. “That element has left. There’s good basketball going on. There’s good tennis going on. The things you like to see are going on.”

McNamara said the low turnout for the beach walk, only eight people came out at the scheduled 9 p.m. starting time, was due to that evening’s thunderstorms and the cancellation of a UMass Boston National Night Out event that would have brought more people to Savin Hill.

During the walk, police were active in the neighborhood. While the group patrolled the boardwalk between the Savin Hill Yacht Club and the rest of the neighborhood, a fight that had broken out on Savin Hill Ave. was being quelled by Boston police. Witnesses said two men were blocking traffic at the corner on Savin Hill Ave. and Grampian Way in a “wrestling match” when police arrived to stop the altercation. The two men stood on opposite sidewalks while police spoke to them around 9:30 p.m.
Hours before the peaceful walk along Savin Hill and Malibu beaches, the neighborhood wasn’t so calm. Police said gunshots were heard early Tuesday afternoon near the Savin Hill MBTA station. According to police records, two young men were arrested for illegal firearm possession outside 95 Auckland Street at 12:30 p.m., just minutes after the reported gunshots.

The incident followed the murder of Dorchester native Derek Matulina, 19, who was fatally shot on May 7 on the Savin Hill train platform after a fight broke out in the station. Nhu Nguyen, 19, has been charged with manslaughter in the case.

According to the National Association of Town Watches’ website, National Night Out is an event designed to promote neighborhood crime prevention and awareness. The organization encourages civil groups, law enforcement, local officials, businesses, and other neighborhood groups to band together at least one night a year to “send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.” In addition to flashlight-led walks around the neighborhood, communities around the country celebrate National Night Out with block parties, youth programs, cookouts, parades, and contests.


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