BOSTON – Representative Paul K. Frost (R-Auburn), Representative Kate D. Campanale (R-Leicester), and Senator Michael O. Moore (D-Millbury) submitted testimony at the Joint Committee on Transportation’s public hearing regarding Senate Bill 1967, An Act designating certain portions of state highway as the Officer Ronald Tarentino, Jr. memorial highway.
Representatives Frost and Campanale with Leicester Police Chief Jim Hurley and MA Coalition of Police Vice-President John Nelson at the Joint Committee on Transportation public hearing April 12th.
The bill filed by Senator Moore, Representative Frost and Representative Campanale, seeks to honor the life and service of Auburn Police Officer Ronald Tarentino Jr., who was killed in the line of duty on May 22, 2016. It will memorialize a section of Route 20 in the Town of Auburn, as well as a portion of Route 9 in the Town of Leicester where Tarentino lived with his family and formerly served.
“Officer Tarentino’s spirit and call to duty will never be forgotten by the residents of Auburn, his hometown of Leicester, or residents of our Commonwealth,” said Senator Moore as part of written testimony submitted to the Joint Committee. “I was honored to work with Chief Andy Sluckis, Chief Jim Hurley, and their Departments, to file legislation that would designate portions of state highway in the Towns of Auburn and Leicester in honor of Officer Tarentino. I look forward to ushering this bill through to the Governor’s desk during the current legislative session.”
Frost commented, “It was an honor to testify on behalf of this bill to designate a portion of Route 20 in Auburn and Route 9 in Leicester after Officer Ronald Tarentino, Jr. I’m proud to be a co-sponsor of this bi-partisan bill with Senator Mike Moore and Representative Kate Campanale as it is fitting and lasting tribute to Officer Tarentino and his sacrifice in the line of duty on May 22, 2016. We as a community will always remember what happened that fatefully sad day and this bill seeks to be a constant reminder to all of what our men and women in blue risk every day for our protection.”
“The naming of a portion of Route 9 in Leicester and Route 20 in Auburn in memory of Officer Tarentino is a way that we as a legislature are able to honor the life and sacrifice of a hero in our communities,” said Representative Campanale.
“Ron was a presence in the community and had a tremendously positive impact on the Towns of Leicester and Auburn. It’s a great tribute to him for both communities to have a roadway in his name and what better place than right in front of the police station, where all his brothers in blue work and pull out onto the highway every day thinking about him,” stated Leicester Police Chief Jim Hurley.
“The naming of a portion of Route Twenty the Ronald Tarentino Jr. Memorial Highway would help the officers of the Auburn Police Department keep the memory of Ron alive and will serve as a constant reminder of the sacrifice that Ron made for the citizens of the Commonwealth,” wrote Auburn Chief of Police Andrew Sluckis in testimony submitted to the Joint Committee.
The bill will need to be favorably out of committee before continuing along the legislative process. In the wake of Officer Tarentino's death, Senator Moore also filed legislation to further protect law enforcement officers who are assaulted in the line of duty. Click below to learn more.