Merrimack Valley Life

Cruisin’ to school in style!

Minicucci kids win police escort to St. Joe’s



As the winners of St. Joseph School’s Police Escort to School auction item, Methuen’s Chase and Quinn Minicucci recently started their day in a heroic way! Courtesy photo

As the winners of St. Joseph School’s Police Escort to School auction item, Methuen’s Chase and Quinn Minicucci recently started their day in a heroic way! Courtesy photo

Driving to St. Joseph’s School is A LOT more exciting when you show up in police SUVs accompanied by five uniformed officers.

Just ask Chase and Quinn Minicucci, who wrapped up their school year in style. Mom Hillary explained that the family won the live-auction prize during the school’s March gala. She thought it would be a fun experience for her children, ages 5 and 10, especially her little boy.

“Chase has been obsessed with firefighters and police officers since he could start talking,” she said.

Since the Minicuccis live over the border, it was the Methuen Police Department that did the driving. And even mom was taken aback by the production.

“I thought it would be one cruiser, so I was floored and beyond surprised when these other officers showed up for a police escort to school,” she laughed.

A quintet of officers arrived in a variety of vehicles, and the kids chose which whip they’d like to ride. Officer Stephen Hatem spearheaded the coordination of the event. Sgt. Neil Quinlan drove the Supervisor’s Vehicle. Officer Aaron Little was in the old car, Officer Kevin Abraham was on motorcycle, and Officer Mark Aiello drove a police cruiser.

While third-grader Quinn was aware of who’d be carpooling that day, it was a surprise for Chase who is in kindergarten.

“He was a little shy, but he pulled through,” mom says.

It helps that two of the officers also have kids at St. Joe’s.

Quinn chose the Ford SUV and Chase said, “I wanna go in the big Chevy!”

Due to the weather, St. Joe’s students and staff were inside the gym when the caravan pulled up. The Minicucci kids and their police-protection crew received a standing ovation and round of applause as they entered. The officers even gave the siblings a box of MPD pens to hand out to classmates.

And now, it seems, Chase has changed his career path.

“He used to want to be a firefighter, but now he wants to be a police officer,” mom Hillary said.

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