Reprinted with the permission of the Wakefield Daily Item
By Gail Lowe
Motorcycle PO Calls It a Day
Scott Mitchell was “invaluable” to the PD, says Smith
WAKEFIELD — After 24 years with the Wakefield Police Department, Patrolman Scott Mitchell decided to call it a day.
A patrol officer on the day shift since 1986, Mitchell was the officer who rode the department’s motorcycle while keeping an eye on what was happening around town.
Police Chief Rick Smith said Mitchell did a “tremendous job” on the motorcycle. “It was his real love,” he said.
Mitchell also had another calling - communications. “He handled all our radio work,” said Chief Smith. “He set up the police department’s radio system by working with vendors and technicians. If the system failed, we always knew who to call.”
Smith said that Mitchell’s propensity for understanding technology was a language he knew nothing about.
“Every time the radio pushes button on radio mike they knew the mike would not fail them because of Scott’s good communications work,” said Smith. “He was invaluable to the department.”
Mitchell could not be reached for comment, but Smith said the retired patrolman was looking forward to spending time with his wife, fishing and visiting his out-of-state vacation home.
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