By Paul Tuthill
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wamc/local-wamc-852023.mp3
Springfield, MA – One of the region's most well known religious leaders was honored in Springfield Massachusetts today for 30 years of dedication and service to police throughout Western Massachusetts...WAMC's Pioneer Valley Bureau Chief Paul Tuthill reports....
Joseph McGuire retired as Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield in 1992, but he only recently relinquished the title of chaplain to the Western Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association. Police from several departments gathered at police headquarters in Springfield to thank McGuire for attending to the spiritual needs of police officers, day and night for 3 decades.
McGuire, who is just a few months shy of his 90th birthday walked, with the help of cane, down a hallway lined on both sides by police officers, who stood at attention and saluted. Later in a conference room, several officers came up to shake up McGuire's hand. Retired Massachusetts State Trooper Robert Emmett Fitzgerald sang McGuire's favorite song... " One Day At A Time, Sweet Jesus." Springfield Police Commissioner William Fitchet presented a commendation and a plague to McGuire, and described him as a person with special magnetism and charm.
There was no darker day for the Springfield Police Department than November 12, 1985 when officers Alain Beauregard and Michael Schiavina were shot and killed during a traffic stop. McGuire was at a meeting in Washington DC when he got the news and rushed back to Springfield. Paula Kenny, who is the police commissioner's chief of staff, was engaged to officer Schiavina. She recalls McGuire's compassion with the families.
McGuire said being chaplain to law enforcement through out Western Massachusetts was a wonderful experience, in good times and bad. He said he was overwhelmed by today's tribute.
McGuire's affinity for police, you might say, is in the blood. Both his father and grandfather were sergeants on the Boston Police Force.