For Immediate Release

Tuesday, June 16, 2015

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

Contact: Jessica Sacco
Email: jessica@jgpr.net
Phone: 978-769-5193

Groveland Ranked Number 1 Safest Place to Live In Massachusetts

GROVELAND — Police Chief Robert Kirmelewicz is happy to report that an independent organization ranked Groveland the number one safest place to live in Massachusetts.

Value Penguin conducted the study and determined Groveland to be the safest town in the state due to its makeup and low number of reported crimes. The company used the FBI Crime Report to determine its results.

In 2013, Value Penguin states that the Groveland Police Department reported only 18 crimes (one robbery and 17 property-related charges) to the FBI. This is a 79 percent lower crime score than from its number a decade ago.

“We pride ourselves on maintaining safety at all times for our residents,” Chief Kirmelewicz said. “This study is a perfect illustration of the hard work and dedication from all the officers at the Groveland Police Department.”

Chief Kirmelewicz also credits Groveland’s rating to government officials, specifically Finance Director Denise Dembkoski. She helped earn the town a bond rating of AA+, the second highest rating available.

In turn, this rating will support the department’s project to re-do their emergency dispatch center and further endeavors down the road.

Groveland is almost entirely residential, with more than 2,100 homes along the Merrimac River.

Value Penguin ranked 237 cities and towns and allotted them a crime score from 71 to 3,742 based on population size and the amount of violent and property-related crimes per 100,000 people. Norfolk came in as the second safest place to live, followed by Sharon, Duxbury and Sudbury.

View the complete article here.

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