Granite Eagle: Executive Councilors Kenney and Stephen Call for Urgent Public Safety Coordination Following Fuentes Tragedy

Snippet from story published at The Granite Eagle on July 17, 2025:

CONCORD, N.H. — In the wake of the murder of Marisol Fuentes, two members of the New Hampshire Executive Council are calling for an urgent inter-agency meeting to review and upgrade the state’s public safety information systems.

In a joint letter sent Tuesday to Chief Justice Gordon MacDonald, Attorney General John Formella, and Safety Commissioner Robert Quinn, Executive Councilors Joseph Kenney (R-Wakefield) and John Stephen (R-Manchester) praised ongoing investigations into the tragedy but stressed the need for broader systemic improvements.

Fuentes, a Berlin resident, was killed by Michael Gleason Jr., who had been subject to a protective order for stalking just five days before the murder. Gleason then took his own life, sparking renewed scrutiny of the state’s bail and protective order processes.

“This tragic incident raises fundamental questions about how we can better protect vulnerable individuals and prevent dangerous offenders from causing harm,” the councilors wrote.

Kenney and Stephen are asking for a meeting in the Executive Council Chambers within the next 7 to 10 days to examine how data about bail conditions, protective orders, and criminal histories is—or isn’t—being shared among law enforcement, courts, and state agencies. The letter highlights the need for real-time information-sharing between judicial and law enforcement systems and proposes evaluating gaps in the current infrastructure.

The proposal comes amid broader public frustration over failures in New Hampshire’s bail system, especially in high-profile cases where offenders released on bail commit additional crimes. The killing of Fuentes is the latest and most tragic example.

Michael Gleason Jr.’s criminal history and the protective order issued shortly before the incident demonstrate how quickly a situation can escalate when systems fail to communicate. Councilors noted that all relevant public safety personnel—including police, parole officers, court staff, and prosecutors—need immediate access to court orders and violations.

The councilors outlined five key discussion points for the proposed meeting:

  • Interoperability of databases across state and local agencies
  • Real-time alerts for protective orders and bail violations
  • Successful best practices from other jurisdictions
  • Investment in modern technology and training
  • Policy options that enhance safety while preserving due process

Read the rest at GraniteEaglePress.com

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