After 32 years of serving the town of Swansea, Officer Shane Mello is preparing to hang up his hats — all of them — which Mello says was “a tough decision.”

 

Over the last three decades, Mello’s passion for connecting with the Swansea community is displayed by his range of service, from the Swansea Police Department, to working as a school resource officer and serving as the town’s harbormaster, to lending his time and talents as Swansea’s official shellfish warden.

 

In a July 1 interview at a quieter-than-usual Joseph Case High School, Mello, who had 30 days to go until retirement, reflected on his time serving students since 2000, and serving the town since 1994.

 

A patrol officer who spent time in the office working for the school district as well as out on the road as a boots-on-the-ground responder to emergency calls, Mello said he’s busier than ever with “a lot of double duty” as the police department’s manpower continues to evaporate during day shift coverage.

 

This school year especially was particularly “rough” on school administrators who lack sufficient resources to offer support that students needs, Mello said, citing an uptick in mental health cases, bullying, and the scare at Mark G. Hoyle Elementary School earlier this year; in that incident, reports spread that a second-grade student brought a handgun to school and were investigated, but no weapon was found. 

 

His job, said Mello, is to enhance the safety of the school, the students, and faculty. During his tenure, he said the role — and the way students perceive him — “has evolved.”

 

“I am a police officer, but I am also a human,” Mello said. “It’s hard to walk away from this,” Mello said, adding that he approached an endless volume of cases in “a job that just doesn’t stop” with the best interest for the students. 

 

See more at heraldnews.com.