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Police union urges Cohasset to act after failed station vote; board considers redesign and charge for facilities committee
Summary
Chase Colasurdo, president of the United Federation of Police Officers (Cohasset Local 143), praised officers for a recent safe de‑escalation, described hazardous conditions at the 62 Elm Street station and urged a long-term solution after voters rejected a new public safety facility; the Select Board discussed redesigns, outreach, and the need to give the Public Safety Facilities Committee a clear charge.
Chase Colasurdo, president of the United Federation of Police Officers, Cohasset Police Local 143, told the Select Board on May 12 that officers recently used de-escalation to resolve an armed mental-health incident without injury and asked the town to address deteriorating conditions at the police station at 62 Elm Street.
"Through patience, communication, and de-escalation tactics, our officers were able to safely resolve the situation without injury and ensure the individual received the medical care they needed at the hospital," Colasurdo said, citing the incident as an example of the department’s professionalism. He said the union respected the election outcome that rejected a proposed new public safety facility but urged the town to pursue a durable solution because the existing station has "failing equipment storage including gun lockers, sewage backups, mold concerns, and structural deterioration."
Board members acknowledged the vote defeat and discussed next steps. Select Member William Ashton suggested exploring a redesign of the 44 Elm Street option using existing design funds; Select Member Gregory Watts emphasized the need to balance departmental requirements with community concern over total cost; and Select Member Paul L. Grady proposed a time-limited marketing campaign to solicit public suggestions. Public Safety Facilities Committee members Glenn Pratt and Dan Tarpy asked the board to provide a definitive charge clarifying whether to focus on 135 King Street, 44 Elm Street, or both sites.
The Town Manager indicated air-quality remediation work is under way at the 62 Elm Street station and that broader remediation and facility planning would be part of any follow-up. The board did not adopt a new site or a specific plan at the meeting; members requested clearer direction for the facilities committee and proposed outreach options.
What’s next: the Select Board directed staff and the facilities committee to return with a clearer scope or charge and possible cost options; no binding decision or new appropriation was made on May 12.
