Brookline Police Officer Receives Brookline Community Foundation's Unsung Hero Award

By Jenny Amory

On June 5, Brookline resident and police officer, Casey Hatchett, received the Brookline Community Foundation (BCF) Unsung Hero Award at the Foundation’s Annual Meeting.

Hatchett is a crime analyst for the Brookline Police Department (BPD), but goes beyond her assignment by writing grants for the department, sitting on the Brookline Emergency Management Team, and coordinating the Brookline Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program. Hatchett is also involved in helping the city in many other ways. She is the treasurer of the Jennifer A. Lynch Committee Against Domestic Violence, co-chair of the Brookline Commission for Women, an elected Brookline Town Meeting member, and vice president of the Massachusetts Association of Crime Analysts.

“I'm honored to be recognized. Honestly I couldn’t do my work without the family, friends and coworkers that I have. I have been fortunate to work with the Brookline Community Foundation for about a decade. BCF has given grants to the Brookline Commission for Women, it has supported the purchase of child seats for families in need for the Police Department’s Child Seat Safety.

Program, and it has helped manage funds for the Jennifer A. Lynch Committee, which raises awareness for domestic violence. I am so grateful to the Foundation for their support in these areas, and many others that are dear to my heart,” said Hatchett.

Past BCF Trustee Hsiu-Lan Chang presented the award, "Casey is a Unsung Heroine in so many ways as she works tirelessly for the town as an officer of the police department as well as in numerous leadership and volunteer positions while also being a great friend to many and mother of four children. Also, her tireless devotion to women's issues in town is a beacon of hope to so many."

The Unsung Hero Award celebrates community members who work to make Brookline better, without calling attention to himself or herself or seeking recognition. Brookline is fortunate to have many actively engaged citizens, young and old, quietly and persistently working to better our community. BCF presents the award to community members who are innovative and creative in their approach to solving social problems, work hard to make a difference in their community and inspire others to give back. To receive the award, Brookline residents are nominated by friends, colleagues or peers and selected by a committee of BCF trustees.