After multiple stabbings tied to parking‑lot disturbances, Squire owners agree to private security and board will revisit in 30 days

A contested Licensing Board hearing over violence and security at The Squire, 604 Squire Road, ended with the club’s owners agreeing to hire a private security firm for the parking lot and to provide a security plan to the board; the board and police will revisit compliance in 30 days.

Chief David Callahan of the Revere Police Department described two “substantial incidents” in January where victims suffered life‑threatening stab wounds in the Squire parking lot and officers provided advanced medical aid. “It’s a public safety issue,” Callahan said, and warned that without additional measures “you’re gonna have somebody there’s gonna be a homicide there, sooner or later.” He told the board the incidents had imposed a significant operational burden on Revere patrols and on mutual‑aid resources.

Owner/manager Robert (Rob) Depiza and manager Peter Depiza contested some of the police characterization but acknowledged the incidents and described existing security measures inside the club: supervised entry with ID checks, metal detectors, pat downs, multiple doormen and payment for police details. The owners said they had paid for traffic‑camera coverage at the city’s request and that they had provided video to investigators in at least one incident. They also argued that police detail officers sometimes left the assigned post early, reducing effectiveness.

Commissioners pressed the owners about consistency of on‑site management; one commissioner cited a memo from staff and a reported unpaid police‑detail bill (approximately $18,000 since October 2024) in questioning whether the operation was consistently supervised. Board members and the police said that earlier practice — combined private security staff assisting with a parking‑lot sweep at closing plus a marked police presence — had proven effective in the past and urged a return to that approach.

After a recess, Chief Callahan and the owners negotiated a short‑term change: the club will hire a private licensed security contractor to patrol and secure the parking lot and surrounding area, and the city will remove the existing police detail for the time being. The board required the owners to submit a written security plan within 30 days describing the security company, deployment plan, liability insurance, and how staff and security will coordinate at closing; the board set a follow‑up review of the arrangement in one month.

Why it matters: Repeated violent incidents linked to the same commercial property can create outsized demands on patrol officers and raise the risk of serious injury or death for patrons and first responders. The board prioritized immediate action (private security) and short‑term monitoring rather than an immediate rollback of operating hours.

Key quotes • Chief David Callahan, Revere Police Department: “It’s a public safety issue... you’re gonna have somebody there’s gonna be a homicide there, sooner or later.” • Lieutenant Leary, Revere Fire Department (on unrelated hotel matter earlier in meeting): “it was every one of them all down the floor.” (regarding bagged detectors; board took note of fire department concerns elsewhere in the agenda.)

Outcome: Owners must contract a licensed private security company for parking‑lot coverage, provide a written security plan within 30 days, and the board will revisit the issue at that time. If the arrangement proves inadequate, the board and police signaled they would consider additional steps, including restoring a police detail or other restrictions.