Bradley Cortez's path to the police force began after he graduated from Martha's Vineyard Regional High School when he joined the army. He did two tours in Afghanistan before deciding he wanted to shift to police work, inspired by officers he encountered as a child.
Island towns struggle to find enough police officers to fill shifts because of the high cost of housing.
Vineyard police chiefs said they are grappling with the Island's dearth of affordable housing, a wave of retirements and the next generation’s waning interest in policing.
Jared Ravizza, 26, appeared virtually in Quincy District Court Thursday where a plea of not guilty was entered on his behalf for charges connected to the alleged stabbing of four girls in a movie theatre.
Martha’s Vineyard Community Services was awarded $685,000 from the state to fund a two-year effort to bolster its workforce for community-based behavioral health and other social services.
A metal guard rail on Lambert’s Cove Road near the West Tisbury town beach will have to be replaced.