By Sue Wambolt, Contributing Writer
Southborough – Officer Aaron Richardson, 28, has recently been named senior resource officer for the Southborough Police Department. In this role, he will be meeting with the town's senior citizens, making himself available for questions and answers, and serve as a liaison between the town's elderly population and the police department.
Richardson worked as police officer for the town of Sherborn and also as a corrections officer at Massachusetts Correctional Institution Norfolk before joining the Southborough Police Department in 2011.
It was no surprise that Richardson chose to pursue a career in law enforcement. His stepfather, Donald Pinckney, was a Boston police officer for over 20 years and his mother, Doris Suttles, remains a traffic supervisor for the Boston Police Department. It was during his sophomore year of high school that Richardson decided that he wanted to follow in his stepfather's footsteps and pursue law enforcement. And, while Richardson says that his parents were influential role models who helped shaped his decision, he also credits Natick Police Chief James Hicks for “helping him along the way.”
As a Southborough police officer, Richardson became familiar with local seniors when he stopped at the Senior Center while on patrol. He spent time with the seniors, watching while they played pool and even joining them in yoga classes. So, when the position of senior resource officer became available he felt it would be a “good fit” for him.
“Through my interactions at the senior center, I learned that the seniors have a lot to give to the community. They have acquired a wealth of knowledge from their many different life experiences. I felt that taking this position would be a good opportunity to give back to the community which has granted me so many wonderful opportunities,” said Richardson. “I wanted to help the seniors and give them a voice within the police department.”
Richardson is looking forward to getting to know the senior residents and is eager to hear their ideas and the issues that they would like addressed.
“My goal is to provide the best service possible to the seniors in our community,” he said. “I would like the seniors to know I am dedicated to the position and I am always here if they need assistance with any type of issue that may arise.”
On the agenda for the seniors this summer is a fire safety and crime prevention barbecue, a departmental meet and greet and a scam prevention seminar aimed at teaching seniors how to protect themselves from online, phone and in-person scams. Information on upcoming events can be found in the Senior Center newsletter and on the police department Facebook page.
Richardson is currently pursuing an Associate's degree in criminal justice at MassBay Community College.
Richardson can be reached at 508-485-2121 or [email protected].