As indicated in an Oct. 30 Recorder article [“Former Franklin County sheriff defends actions following police academy termination“], Chris Donelan did much during his tenure as sheriff to bring a variety of innovative programs to the Franklin County jail and greater community. I’ve been pleased to be part of the evolution of one over the past decade, the jail gardening program that provides learning and well-being to people incarcerated. I am also aware of several arts, mindfulness and wellness, and conflict mediation initiatives that Donelan made possible.
Sheriff Donelan was consistently responsive to questions or programming ideas I offered. In addition to appreciation for his vision, I perceive him as a leader willing to engage in conversation. What I find disturbing about the scenario described regarding the East Falmouth Academy is the apparent lack of transparency and communication with Mr. Donelan to address and resolve issues in ways that could have actually improved upon the training program in question. Instead, when issues such as this are silenced and individuals cancelled, there leaves little opportunity for transformation in an institution, namely that training academy.
I am a pacifist by nature, but it does indeed seem that if someone is pursuing a career in law enforcement or the carceral system, they should be able to handle stress, such as exercise in the cold and mud. And if there was bullying by a police trainer, that is unacceptable, but this cycle of institutionalized behavior could perhaps have been remedied through the vast skills of someone like Donelan, but he was not given the opportunity. Chris Donelan had the integrity to publicly express his sadness that this incident and related media might tarnish the image of his fruitful career. I trust I am not alone in saying that the decades of service, leadership, and creative vision embodied by Chris Donelan is what rises to the surface.
Deb Habib
Orange