PRESS RELEASE: Local Auto Body Instructor helps Restore Police Call Box


Methuen Police Department
Joseph Solomon, Chief of Police
Quinn Public Safety Building
90 Hampshire St.
Methuen, MA 01844
For Immediate Release
Friday, Feb. 3, 2017
Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

Auto Body Instructor Thomas Hatem Restores Police Call Box for Methuen Police Department’s Artifact Collection

METHUEN — Mayor Steve Zanni and Police Chief Joseph Solomon would like to thank Thomas Hatem, the auto body instructor at the Greater Lawrence Vocational School, for restoring a police call box which was discovered by a Methuen Police Officer last year.


Methuen Police Chief Joseph Solomon (left) with Thomas Hatem (right). Hatem restored a police call box and pedestal for the Methuen Police’s artifact collection. (Courtesy Photo)

In the summer of 2016, Officer Aaron Little located the call box and pedestal at the intersection of Jackson Street and Berkley Street in Lawrence. It was covered in a trash bag and duct tape, and in poor condition due to weather damage.

Officer Little contacted Chief Solomon about the possibility of repairing the call box and adding it to the Methuen Police Department’s artifact collection, which includes items such as old police logs, uniforms and equipment.

Chief Solomon then contacted Lawrence Police Chief James Fitzpatrick and Lawrence Fire Chief Brian Moriarty, who generously donated the call box to the collection.

After Methuen Police received the call box, Officer Little reached out to Hatem and asked if he would repair the call box. Hatem donated the time and materials for the project, which took approximately two months to complete. He has previously assisted with other projects for the Methuen Police Department, including repairs to rust or small dents on undercover police cars.

“I would like to extend many thanks to Thomas Hatem for his work over the years which has benefitted the police department and city as a whole,” Mayor Zanni said. “He has sacrificed his time to provide another piece of quality work to the department.”

“Thomas Hatem has volunteered many hours and materials from his garage in order to restore the police call box and pedestal, which turned out to be a wonderful addition to our collection,” Chief Solomon said. “We are grateful for the work that he has done for the Methuen Police Department to facilitate various projects and thank him for his continual willingness to assist us.”

The call box and pedestal are currently on display at the entrance of Sanborn Hall.