LYNN — Working with the Police Department, Greater Lynn Senior Services (GLSS) is developing a multi-use emergency plan.
The plan provides staff with important information and procedures to follow in the case of many kinds of situations.
“I cannot thank the Lynn Police Department enough for assisting us both with the development of our plan and participating in our staff trainings,” said Kenneth Halkin, GLSS’ chief financial officer, who is directing GLSS’ Safety Committee’s work.
Halkin noted the contributions of Officer Oren Wright, the Lynn Police Department’s school security and emergency planning liaison, who is currently working with the committee, and retired Officer Bob Ferrari, who was originally assigned to assist GLSS.
One of the city’s largest employers, GLSS has two major sites, one of which is co-located with the Lynn Senior Center in downtown Lynn. Its Lynnway facility houses one of the region’s largest transportation operations.
“The Senior Center is a public space that is welcoming to all members of the community,” said Director Stacey Minchello. “We have been fortunate to be able to work with Officer Wright on an ongoing basis regarding a number of safety protocols, such as de-escalation techniques.”
Employees are specially trained in emergency response and that the Senior Center participates in agency-wide drills and is equipped with special safety equipment, including a defibrillator.
With 620 employees, getting everyone “on the same page” has taken some time. Training has been ongoing for a number of months.
“Officer Wright has really been able to make the trainings more interesting and engaging for staff,” Halkin said.