Hi Joey,
Buona Fiesta!! I am so happy to have celebrated St. Peters Fiesta with the citizens of Gloucester and met so many of your readers and thank them for their wonderful comments and support of the Police Department.
Over all, I think we had wonderful cooperation from the vast majority of people at the Fiesta and the establishments in the City. We had a low number of arrests for the very specific reasons that I outlined before the Fiesta. We were not going to tolerate any one who decides to become a disruptive influence on an otherwise enjoyable and fun family event. And as I said, the overwhelming majority of people respected this. In fact, as of today, we had only 17 Fiesta related arrests and they were misdemeanors. My office has thus far received no reports of injuries as a result of the arrests and disruptive behavior and I credit the City’s police officers, as well as the great support we received from the Essex Sheriff’s Department and the Massachusetts State Police. I cannot thank the majority of Gloucester residents enough for their cooperation and respectfulness throughout Fiesta. I think it also important to thank the City Administration, especially Mayor Carolyn Kirk, who was present throughout the Fiesta and often checked in with me to ensure my first Fiesta had the support of the City. The support of Mayor Kirk had a lot to do with the safe and enjoyable atmosphere of this years’ Fiesta celebration.
Some of your readers may have a concern about the deployment of K9 ‘s and their handlers at closing times. I can tell you that I am evaluating that response with the input I have heard from my officers, establishment owners, and citizens I have heard of. I would also like to ask your reader to call me directly if they have a concern. There is perspective in every police matter, especially when managing a crowd of thousands across several establishments who may have been consuming alcohol, and sometimes those perspectives can differ. I’m happy to discuss any issues the community has in working toward making next year’s Fiesta even safer and more enjoyable for all.
Again, let me say how much I was honored to have been a part of this event. As the Police Chief, I believe it was very successful and a safe event. As a person, I enjoyed it immensely and look forward to next year. It’s one of the reasons that Gloucester is such a special community.
Respectfully,
Leonard Campanello
Chief of Police
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Ev Harlow and his band Roots 66 have agreed to open the free concert on the Boulevard beginning at 5pm on Wednesday 7/3. Their bluesy blend of roots, classic rock and Americana fits perfectly with the spirit of the day and will help us all get ready to celebrate our independence with music, dancing, parade, fireworks & a spectacular laser light show.
Here’s the updated schedule:
Good Morning Gloucester 
