BY RYAN O’CONNOR
Hopkinton police have been investigating the fire that destroyed the Slusser Senior Center in January, but Chief David Wheeler said it is too soon to reveal a suspect.
“The investigation is going forward and we have some viable leads,” said Wheeler. “It’s a very difficult case, but we do have an individual of focus.”
Wheeler said the investigation is progressing, but he isn’t sure when an arrest will be made.
He is surprised the arson was committed in the first place, based on his eight years of experience as Hopkinton’s police chief.
“It’s very sad to see that type of destruction in this community. This is something we really haven’t seen here,” he said. “Typically, people will engage an issue. They’ll take it to town floor and they’ll debate it, which is very healthy. But to see someone act out in the fashion that they did, it’s very sad because it’s not a very common characteristic of this community. It kind of goes against the grain.
“People talk about it as an act of desperation, that this was a desperate act, and I’m not buying that,” Wheeler continued. “I think it was a callous, thoughtless thing for someone to do.”
Despite the arson, town officials say they are moving forward with the original plan and hope to resume building within a month, pending completion of necessary insurance steps.
“We’re shooting now for early fall, maybe September (to open),” said Selectman Don Lane, who also serves on the Slusser Center Building Committee. “Nothing will change. We’re just planning to move ahead. We’re not in any way responding to the arsonist. I think it would be tragic if we did anything
to accommodate him or her.”
In the meantime, Lane said officials will try to address concerns and correct what he perceives to be fictitious rumors.
“The problem is there is an enormous amount of misinformation that is being put out by a very small group of individuals. But, I guess what is happening is if you put out enough bad information, pretty soon it becomes the rule, so we’re going to be prepared to respond in depth at Town Meeting to any questions or concerns anyone has,” he said.
The Slusser Center Building Committee is also planning a fundraiser following Town Meeting to make up the difference between the Eugene and Anne Slusser’s gift of $1 million and the additional $200,000 it will take to complete the project.