Crab cakes, choice tenderloin, and a blue line in the kitchen

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Traffic officer Neal Condlin serves up the first course, with help from Detective Michael Snowden. — Photo by Steve Myrick

Annie Heywood of Chappaquiddick offered quite a review of the Edgartown Police Patrolmen’s Association annual feast for the town’s senior residents.

“The crab cakes are not too spicy and you really taste the crab,” she said. “And it was served royally by the handsome young servers.”

Jean Bishop was also quite impressed with the crab cake appetizer followed by choice tenderloin, roasted garlic and chive mashed potatoes, and haricot verts. She may be forgiven for a somewhat less than impartial review. Her grandson, Officer William Bishop, is one of the key organizers of the annual senior feast.

“I’m so proud of him,” Ms. Bishop said.

The Patrolmen’s Association, aided by members of the fire department and ambulance service, hosted more than 70 people for the feast. In the fire station kitchen, Officer Michael Gazaille, the department’s unofficial, but very much admired chef, led a kitchen full of cooks and an enthusiastic wait staff of more than a dozen volunteers dressed in police blues and ambulance whites. Three of the fire trucks sat outside the station, and the hungry diners sat in the truck bays at elegantly decorated round tables. Defibrillators, a personal watercraft patrol unit, and the town’s newest fire truck lent an air of public safety chic to the proceedings.

The annual dinner gives the officers a chance to meet some of the people they serve. The officers introduced themselves as the first course was served, and offered a short summary of their time on the force. Traffic officer Neal Condlin, a summer fixture on Main Street, drew a laugh.

“I’m Neal Condlin, I’ve been here since 1875,” he said.

Officer Bishop thanked Island Food Products for providing all of the food at generously discounted prices, as well as Stop & Shop, the Lookout Tavern, and Dairy Queen for donating raffle prizes.

The dinner also gives public safety officers a chance to address more serious issues.

“You’re not doing us any favors by going to bed with chest pain, and waiting until 6 am to call us,” said Chuck Cummens, a paramedic and training officer with the Edgartown ambulance service. “Time is so important. ‘I’ll feel better in the morning’ doesn’t work. If you feel bad now, call us now.”

With new bonds made, and perhaps a few future emergencies averted, the officers wrapped up dinner with generous servings of homemade pumpkin pie.