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Gloucester Police Chief and former Saugus officer Leonard Campanello will be honored at the Anti-Defamation League’s May 5 breakfast in Salem.
BY THOR JOURGENSEN
LYNN — An English High School peer mediator and a former Saugus police officer who fought opiate addiction will be honored at the Anti-Defamation League’s (ADL) May 5 breakfast in Salem.
Sponsored under the theme of “Creating a more inclusive Commonwealth,” the 7:30 a.m. event at Kernwood Country Club features keynote speaker and Boston City Councilor Josh Zakim.
Gov. Charlie Baker was invited to be the main speaker. But he declined due to what ADL New England director Robert Trestan called a scheduling conflict.
“We hope he will join us for another event,” Trestan said.
In a statement, a spokeswoman said Baker regrets he cannot attend the breakfast and added, “he appreciates the group’s years of work combating hate and intolerance here in the commonwealth.”
English’ Ginny Keenan and Gloucester Police Chief Leonard Campanello will receive community service awards. Trestan said helping immigrant students is Keenan’s “life’s work” and said that he brings English students to the ADL’s Annual Youth Congress.
“With her as an advisor, English has done a tremendous job,” Trestan said.
Campanello has been named a “champion of change” by President Obama for launching a Gloucester initiative aimed at helping opiate addicts. He became Gloucester chief in 2012 and worked for more than two decades as a Saugus police officer.
“He used his position as chief to save many lives at great personal risk. We are honoring him because he took that chance,” Trestan said.
Although he will not be speaking to breakfast attendees on the event’s theme, Baker, in a statement provided by Guyton, addressed the transgender rights bill tentatively slated to be debated by the state Senate on May 12. Baker has not committed to signing the bill should it reach his desk.
“Governor Baker believes no one should be discriminated against based on their gender identity and has encouraged the transgender community to continue advocating for their beliefs. The governor, who supports the 2011 transgender protections, will carefully review a bill should the legislature act and is pleased that Massachusetts public schools adhere to policies that accommodate transgender students’ needs and believes employers should also accommodate transgender individuals’ needs.”
Thor Jourgensen can be reached at tjourgensen@itemlive.com.