Friday, April 4, 2025
Gloucester Police Officers Wear the “Understand Love” Patch
This meaningful design honors Autism Acceptance Month and carries a powerful message of compassion and inclusion.
What makes it even more special is that the artwork was created by Helen Larabell, a creative and thoughtful fifth grader from Plum Cove School located in Gloucester.
Chosen from over 300 entries in a student art contest, Helen’s design stood out for its uplifting message and vibrant depiction of unity and support for the autism community.
I was honored to join Helen, her family, Gloucester police officers Chris Liacos, Dave D’Angelo, and Brendan Chipperini, along with the dedicated team from Northeast Arc, to celebrate Helen’s achievement.
Learn more about how we celebrated Helen’s achievement in this Gloucester Daily Times article by Ethan Forman: https://www.gloucestertimes.com/.../article_22c62272-2cf6...
Excerpt of article below
“This is a great way to draw attention to autism and the need to support folks with autism and do education around it,” I said, “and it’s really great that Helen has great artistic talent—and she shared it to help other people.”
Congratulations, Helen—and thank you for helping our community embrace understanding and support through your art.
Autism Acceptance patches from the Gloucester Police Department (Official) are available for purchase for $10 each, plus $3 for shipping. You can order via the Venmo app (@GPD-donations) or by scanning the provided QR code. Be sure to include your shipping address—proceeds go directly to support the work of Northeast Arc.
