Cambridge Police command staff honors its veterans by covering their shifts

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — The veterans at Cambridge Police who were scheduled to work this holiday weekend got a call from the higher-ups to go take the day off and be with family because they were going to cover their shifts personally.

Cambridge Police Commissioner Branville Bard spent Veterans Day on patrol. He and the rest of the department's command staff worked the shifts of six armed service veterans.

"Many of our service men and women and their families suffered extended periods apart and today gives them a day when they don't have to be a part. Where they can spend that time together," Commissioner Bard said.

Commissioner Bard was working Monday for Officer Omar Corona, who served in the U.S. Army.

"I think he thought it was a joke at first.," Commissioner Bard said. "It doesn't affect their leave, they are just granted the day off. And members of the command staff are filling in using the exact same car and performing the exact same services."

The commissioner got a day full of police calls.

"I've been to a hospital case, couple of motor vehicles stops, issued a couple of citations," Said Bard.

This call was for a bank alarm.

"When we got here the worker met us and let us know he tripped it accidentally."

The commissioner says the six officers who were picked are all war veterans and they were all working on the Veteran's Day weekend.

"One of the superintendents and one of the deputy supers who worked for veterans are themselves veterans, but they still felt important to say thanks to a subordinate," Commissioner Bard said.

Cambridge Police plan to continue honoring their veterans with days off like this and the command staff is honored to do it.

"It's a concrete way to say thank you to the men and women who served in the armed forces," Bard said.

Cox Media Group