Members of the Barrington Town Council and Barrington School Committee praised the work of the Barrington Police Department for its response to a tense incident outside the high school last month. 

On May 10, Barrington Police responded to the Barrington High School soccer field for a student who had a knife and was experiencing a mental health situation. Police were able to get the student to drop the knife, and first responders transported the student to a hospital for evaluation. 

Council members opened their June 3 meeting with a special recognition for the police officers who handled the incident in late May. 

School Committee members held a similar moment of recognition. School Committee members Patrick McCrann, TJ Peck, Frazier Bell and Megan Douglas thanked the police officers and dispatcher. They also spoke about the important role the police department plays in the community and with the school department.

According to multiple officials, Barrington School Resource Officer Joel Saccoccio was crucial in helping de-escalate the incident outside the high school. His work, officials said, helped ensure a peaceful outcome.