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Police chief briefs board on hotel calls, human‑trafficking grant and upcoming opioid forum
Summary
Police Chief Ron Sellon told the Select Board the department has tracked hundreds of calls to local hotels over recent years, described coordination with hotel management and regional units, noted a gaming‑commission grant focused on human trafficking, and invited the public to an opioid funding/open‑forum event in mid‑November at the public safety facility.
Police Chief Ron Sellon briefed the Mansfield Select Board on public‑safety concerns tied to hotels in town, recent investigative activity and planned public engagement around opioid funding.
Sellon said a recent incident involving North Attleboro and Mansfield police at a local hotel remains under investigation by the Bristol County District Attorney’s office. “That is a matter that’s still under investigation by the Bristol County District Attorney’s office… so I can’t discuss particulars,” he told the board, adding broadly that “for the most part” the incident does not present extraneous circumstances that should alarm the public.
The chief reviewed historical call‑for‑service counts at the Red Roof Inn, noting the department recorded 758 calls there in February 2017 and about 517 year‑to‑date in the current reporting frame. He said hotels by nature draw a transitory population and that increased regional attention linked to the state migrant situation has raised public concern; he urged a coordinated review by the police, fire and health departments. “I think it would provide… a little bit more clarification,” Sellon said of compiling a cross‑departmental report for the town manager and board.
Sellon described operational responses: regular meetings with hotel management, problem‑oriented policing and coordination with Boston’s Human Trafficking Unit. He also said the department recently received grant funding, including a gaming commission grant aimed at human‑trafficking work.
The chief invited board members and residents to an opioid funding/open‑forum event the department is organizing in November at the Public Safety facility (the meeting was later referenced as Nov. 19, 7–9 p.m. in the meeting).
Board members said they supported a cross‑departmental review and asked the chief to work with the town manager to formalize a report when the manager returns from vacation.
