SALEM — Police Chief Robert St. Pierre retires today after 25 years in the corner office, the longest tenure of any chief in city history.
He leaves a job he loved doing. And he goes out the door doing what he loves best — honoring his officers.
St. Pierre handed out commendations recently to four officers for their lifesaving efforts.
Patrolman Michael Dunn was recognized for "heroic actions" on the night of Aug. 3, when he responded to a fire in an apartment at Rainbow Terrace. Dunn kicked open a front door, made his way through thick smoke to the second floor and led a resident who had collapsed to safety outside.
"Officer Dunn's quick and decisive action averted a far greater tragedy than a burned home," the chief wrote in a letter of commendation. "The personal courage and selflessness he displayed is truly commendable."
Three other officers were honored for their actions on Aug. 2, when a Raymond Road resident called police to say that her husband was unresponsive and not breathing.
Patrolwoman Mary Smith, a police dispatcher, kept the caller on the phone and obtained key information about the victim's medical history, which she relayed to police on their way to the house.
Patrolman Thomas Pelletier, the first on the scene, found the man had no pulse and began CPR. He was quickly joined by Patrolman Jonathan Bedard, who had been on a private detail nearby. Bedard began connecting defibrillator wires to the victim's chest. When it was determined shock wasn't needed, he assisted with the CPR.
Within moments, the victim regained consciousness and, before being transported to the hospital, was even talking with family members.
"By bringing calm and immediate professional action to this desperate situation, a life was saved," the chief wrote.
Teed off
Five members of the Salem High golf team had the chance to see golf greats Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Irishman Padraig Harrington when the PGA Tour came to Norton over Labor Day weekend.
It was thanks to School Committee member Janet Crane, whose nephew, Ben Crane, is a professional golfer, and who was able to get tickets for some of the Salem teens and their families to attend the Deutsche Bank Championship.
"What a wonderful opportunity for Salem kids," said Salem High golf coach Tom Doyle. "Just to see Tiger Woods in person is an amazing thing for these kids, and to see how good the professional golfers are. ... They had a blast."
Salem students Cameron Darmody, Meghan Debski, Tyler Madden, Eric Sargent and David Karam and some of their family members went to the tournament.
And, of course, Janet Crane was there, too, to cheer on her nephew, who tied for 69th place.
"He's a very nice man," she said of her nephew. "He's very gracious with the other players and tries to encourage them.
"I told him (School Committee member) Jim Fleming mentioned and thanked him at the School Committee meeting this week, and Ben was very pleased."
Jewish hero
A national Jewish charity is giving out a "Jewish Community Hero Award," and the nominees include Robert Lappin, whose Salem-based charity was wiped out by the Bernard Madoff scandal.
The Robert I. Lappin Foundation runs the Youth to Israel Adventure, which has provided free trips to Israel for thousands of North Shore Jewish teens.
Despite the loss of the charity's $8 million endowment, Lappin raised $450,000 and was able to send 83 teens to Israel this summer. He also personally came up with several million dollars to replenish the retirement funds that his employees lost in the Ponzi scheme.
The United Jewish Communities/The Jewish Federation of North America is giving a $25,000 prize to the winner, who will be determined by an online vote that ends Oct. 8. The money will go toward the recipient's work.
To vote, go to www.jewishcommunityheroes.org.
Hooray for thrift
An amazing fact was revealed during the Tuesday night public meeting on the Salem Mission's plan to convert the former St. Mary's Church into housing for the homeless.
Somebody asked how much revenue is generated by the shelter's thrift shop, which operates out of the bottom of the church.
Would you believe $130,000?
Who knew Uncle Jim's old pants were worth so much?
Happy birthday
In case you missed it, the farmers market celebrated its 375th birthday last week. Or, to be more accurate, the city celebrated the 375th anniversary of that piece of ground on Front Street being used as a market.
If you haven't gone to the Thursday market, there is still time. It just hit the halfway point of its 38-week schedule.
Iron Tim
Tim Clarke of Waters & Brown is providing hope for the middle-aged.
Clarke, 47, got interested in triathlons five years ago and entered a few small ones. He soon graduated to the big time, recently completing the Lake Placid Iron Man Triathlon.
What is that? Just a 2.4-mile swim followed by a 112-mile bike race and a 26.2-mile marathon. All back to back, on the same day.
Clarke finished in 12 hours, 23 minutes and 44 seconds.
And he wasn't alone. Other Salem residents who did the Lake Placid Iron Man include Kelly Philbin and a husband-and-wife team, Patrick Smith and Denise Murphy.
And Clarke wasn't the only Salem Rotarian to compete. Brenda Smith of Marblehead also finished the grueling event.
Sky power
Yes, that was a helicopter hovering over the Salem Harbor Station power plant on Tuesday. It flew down from New Hampshire to help workers replace two huge mufflers, which will help keep the noise down when the generators are started up and a loud burst of steam is released.
Jail food
The developer of the old Salem Jail told the Salem Redevelopment Authority this week that he has two people interested in opening a restaurant in the 200-year-old building.
"He has two live ones," said Mike Brennan, chairman of the SRA.
The developer declined to reveal their identities, saying only that one is a Boston chef.
Night at the museum
City councilors formally accepted a pretty generous gift last night.
The Read Family Charitable Trust is donating a lot of money to allow any resident in the city a chance to visit the Museum of Science during the month of September and even take in a film at the Omni Imax Theater — all for free.
So how much are they committing to this educational effort?
Up to $44,000 a year for the next three Septembers.
Mayor Kim Driscoll had hoped more than 1,000 Salem residents would take advantage of the program. About 550 have already visited in just the first week alone.
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