Methuen Police Lt. Joseph Aiello, left, and Curt Lavarello, executive director of the School Safety Advocacy Council at the National School Safety Conference. (Courtesy photograph.)
Methuen Police Lt. Joseph Aiello was awarded the 2017 National School Safety Award last week.
Aiello is a 23-year veteran of the Methuen Police Department and was promoted to the rank of lieutenant earlier this month. He serves as the department’s school service unit supervisor and previously as the school resource officer. He also coordinates the Methuen Police Explorers program and is a member of the Northeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council School Threat Assessment and Response System.
“We are honored to have Lt. Aiello serving the City of Methuen and our schools, and we are very proud of him for this outstanding achievement,” said Mayor Stephen N. Zanni.
Aiello received the award during the School Safety Advocacy Council’s 12th annual National School Safety Conference in Las Vegas, Nev. During the ceremony, honorees from across the country were recognized for their accomplishments in the area of school safety and security.
Aiello graduated from UMass-Lowell with a master’s in criminal justice. Prior to joining the Methuen Police Department, Aiello served as a U.S. Navy Seabee with the rank of petty officer third class.
“Lt. Aiello’s decade of school safety training and experience has elevated him to a nationally recognized expert in school safety and security,” Police Chief Joseph E. Solomon said. “His vision and knowledge make him a sought-after lecturer and trainer and his dedication to school safety is a major asset to the City of Methuen.”