Family asks Lawrence council to forward home‑rule petition for late Sgt. Charles Sandin

Chair Anna Levy opened the ordinance subcommittee meeting and introduced an item asking the city to consider a home‑rule petition seeking retirement benefits for the late Lawrence police sergeant Charles ("Charlie") Sandin.

Lee Panateria, the family's attorney, asked the committee to consider a special legislative remedy after the retirement board denied the family’s application. "We are here to petition a home rule petition, for the late officer Charlie Sandin," Panateria told the committee, and argued that a technical reading by the retirement board — which relied on a finding that food poisoning interrupted the causal chain — failed to account for the cumulative occupational stress of policing.

Jay Cirillo and other colleagues described Sandin's 21‑year career and the repeated physical and emotional demands of police work. "Policing is by far, in its nature, an extremely stressful profession," Cirillo said, recounting long hours, repeated exposure to trauma and recent COVID infections he said contributed to Sandin’s declining health.

Family members also spoke. Cassidy Sandin, Sandin’s daughter, described the personal toll of her father’s death. "He was truly my hero," she said. David Sanden, his son, added that the family has been left to manage his education and household affairs without his support.

Widow Kelly Sanden recounted Sandin’s deep ties to Lawrence and urged the committee to recognize the totality of his service. "This is the first time in 2.5 years that I've had this opportunity to be heard, to tell my story about my husband," she said, framing his repeated illnesses and night‑shift work as part of the case for benefits.

Committee members expressed sympathy but said they needed additional legal documentation and a response from the retirement board before a final municipal vote. A motion to forward the petition to the full council with a favorable recommendation, pending city‑attorney documentation and an invitation to the retirement board, was seconded by Councilor Gregor del Rosario and carried in roll call with the members present voting yes.

The committee did not adopt a substantive policy change at the meeting; it forwarded the petition and requested the additional documentation and retirement‑board participation before the full council acts.