GLSS responds to safety concerns

LYNN – Ninety-year-old Rose Jarmilwicz isn?t letting a little thing like a robbery get her down, but city officials are up in arms over the brazen incident that happened the afternoon of July 8 at Greater Lynn Senior Services.The suspect, a homeless and allegedly drunk Russell Kerivan, was caught within minutes of the bold robbery with Jarmilwicz?s purse and $52. He is now facing stiff charges at Lynn District Court, but a new concern has since popped up. How safe is the city?s elderly population??The good thing is that no one got hurt,” said City Council President Tim Phelan. “But he (Kerivan) should be locked up. He obviously needs help and should be taken off the streets.”Referencing elderly city resident Geneva Sozanski, who was brutally beaten and robbed outside of her home in November 2010, Phelan said the GLSS robbery could have been much worse.?I don?t want to see the elderly hurt or harmed in anyway, and I also don?t want them to be scared,” Phelan said. “You can never have enough security, but this seems like an isolated case of a drunk guy coming in and causing a disturbance.”GLSS Executive Director Paul Crowley said because of a free elder lunch program offered at the center for those over the age of 60, Kerivan, 62, was able to freely walk in for an afternoon meal. Crowley claimed that he has no idea how Kerivan made his way into the center, where close to 150 people dine everyday, but promised he wouldn?t be back anytime soon because he was banned from the area.?We have a very aggressive zero-tolerance approach at the center and, if someone comes in that is obviously intoxicated, they won?t last there very long,” Crowley said. “Obviously, he (Kerivan) was on the prowl and folks of his ilk prey on the weakness of society.”Jarmilwicz had just sat down for lunch and a friendly game of Bingo with her friends, when Kerivan allegedly sat down next to her and asked her to watch over his bottle of booze. Within seconds, Kerivan swapped his bottle for her purse and hid in the men?s bathroom. He then allegedly came out, pushed a GLSS employee out of the way and was arrested minutes later by an officer working a nearby detail.Crowley stressed the immediate response by GLSS management to the scene by way of a secret code announced over the center?s loudspeaker system.?We took the bad apple out of the equation,” he said. “We?ve had very few incidents here and I don?t want people to think it?s a war zone. The place is safe and secure and we don?t tolerate bad behavior. It?s not the best area but we keep it safe.”Despite Crowley?s assurance, Jarmilwicz?s robbery hit home for Ward 1 City Councilor Wayne Lozzi, whose own mother was savagely attacked and robbed in a Stop & Shop parking lot nearly 10 years ago. The robbery left his mother hospitalized with a broken hip and arm, as well as emotionally scarred.?Having personally been touched by a robbery, I?m glad she (Jarmilwicz) wasn?t injured,” Lozzi said. “Can we ask the police to do more with security at GLSS? I don?t know, but hopefully this is a rare occurrence.”Lynn Police Chief Kevin Coppinger said stepping up patrols at the senior center is most likely not going to happen seeing as the department is already stretched thin. But he stressed that walking patrols will once again make a presence on city streets in the coming weeks, courtesy of a grant.?Unfortunately there are people out there who see the elderly as easy targets,” Coppinger said. “But, then again, this can happen to anybody and, because of that, it?s always important to watch your pocketbook and your surroundings.”Calls placed to Mayor Judith Flanagan Kennedy were not immediately returned on Tuesday.