Detective Daniele Fortunato announced officially this week that she is leaving the Harvard Police Department at the end of this month and will join the force in Millbury, where she lives. Looking back over her 20 years in Harvard, Fortunato said, “Essentially, I grew up here.”
Detective Daniele Fortunato greets Officer Dusty the assistance dog after an interview with the Press at the police station. Fortunato and Dusty will be leaving the force to join the Millbury Police Department. (Photo by Lisa Aciukewicz
Back in 2003, she was Daniele Paganelli from Westford, a new graduate of the police academy. Former Police Chief Bill Chase swore her in as a part-time officer, together with two other newcomers, one of whom was James Babu, now the town’s police chief. (See his statement below.)
In the two decades since then, Fortunato says she has grown both personally and professionally. After a year working part time, she became a full-time officer and later a detective, a position that allows her extensive community involvement, especially with the schools. She has earned three degrees, two in criminal justice and a master’s in education. She is married and has two children; her husband is a police officer in Sutton. The family settled in Millbury, her husband’s hometown.
“I never took the sergeant’s exam,” Fortunato said in a recent interview. “My goal in life was always my true happiness. My happiness was working with the community. That’s why I never went for the sergeant’s position—because it would take me away from the community role.” She has been the department’s school resource officer and has regularly taught a personal safety course at the Bromfield School for 15 years.
Fortunato has used her long daily commute—sometimes 10 to 12 hours a week—as a time to “decompress,” she said, or to phone her mother. But in the past year, that long drive has become more stressful. Traffic has worsened. And as her children reach middle school, they are taking part in more after-school sports and activities that need parental rides and support.
Fortunato concluded it was time to make a change and reduce the hours she spends in the car. In leaving, she is giving up her 20 years’ seniority in Harvard. “I’ll be low man on the totem pole at Millbury,” she admitted with a grin. “And I will probably be on midnight [shift].”
Even before she applied for the Millbury position, she told Chief Babu of her intention, so he could begin to plan for the transition in the department. And Officer Dusty, the assistance dog Fortunato acquired in 2020 through a nonprofit program, will be making new friends in Millbury, where the black Lab is sure to be welcomed to the police team.
A troubling issue
Asked what aspect of policing was the largest part of her current work in Harvard, Fortunato gave a surprising—and distressing—answer: child exploitation, especially through the internet. She said the issue is affecting children even in elementary school, when kids begin to get exposed to social media.
“There’s a predatory avenue that these kids are being pulled into,” Fortunato said. “… Kids seem to have this common denominator of looking for somebody who is just embracing them, right? Like making them feel good.” She explained kids may feel safe connecting to strangers online because they believe the internet protects their anonymity.
Like domestic abuse, mental health cases, and most juvenile offenses, child exploitation cases are kept confidential to protect the identity of the victims. They don’t show up in the weekly police log. But they demand many hours of work from Harvard’s police officers. “We’re extracting information, trying to get usernames, trying to subpoena those usernames, trying to get those names to the state cybercrime unit,” Fortunato said. That unit, in turn, looks for the same usernames or known offenders turning up across the state.
“It’s not just here—it’s everywhere,” Fortunato explained, saying she hears similar reports from other towns, both large and small, when she goes to conferences. She noted that many kids are just looking for acceptance and affection, and she linked their vulnerability to a crisis in mental health among young people.
A small, close-knit department
Millbury has a population of about 14,000, slightly more than double Harvard’s 6,600. But its police force has 22 officers, Fortunato said, compared to Harvard’s nine. “We’re just too short staffed,” she said of Harvard. “You know, one officer monitoring 30 square miles is insane. … Especially with calls for domestic violence, … officers should not be waiting for mutual aid [from other towns] for backup.”
Fortunato noted the strong bonds within the Harvard Police Department. “We get along like brothers and sisters. … We argue, but we ultimately are very supportive of each other and have this trust that is unique. … I know their families, their ups and downs. It’s a pretty special bond that we all have. When I think about it more, it’s like I’m leaving home or moving away to start a new chapter. I’m sure I’ll keep in touch with each of them, which means a lot to me.”
Chief Babu praises Fortunato’s commitment to community
In an email to the Press, Police Chief James Babu expressed his appreciation for Fortunato’s years of service and commitment to the department and to the town of Harvard:
“It warms my heart to reflect on the wonderful years that Detective Daniele Fortunato has dedicated to serving our town for two decades. It’s hard to believe how time has flown since we first embarked on this journey together as officers. Throughout these years, I had the privilege of witnessing first hand her unwavering dedication to her duty, her community, and her colleagues.
“… Her demeanor, courage and professionalism were exemplary. It was evident that she always placed the needs of the community first and worked tirelessly to ensure its safety and well-being. She implemented the comfort-dog program to Harvard and … also worked diligently in bringing the co-clinician program to fruition in town. … Her involvement in the schools and her genuine care for the youth further solidified her place as a pillar of our community. She wasn’t just an officer; she was a role model and a friend to those she interacted with.
“While it saddens me to bid farewell to such an integral part of our team and community, it’s heartening to know that the move will afford her more time with her family. … The camaraderie we developed over the years is something I hold dear, and I am immensely grateful for her contributions and the experiences we’ve shared.”
M.G.
