Former Police Officer, Selectman Damata passes due to covid

Jan 23, 2021

Former Wareham Police Officer and Selectman Dennis Damata died from coronavirus complications on Jan. 19.

Damata served as a member of the Wareham Police Department from 1985 until 2010, and worked as a special police officer after his retirement until he fell ill.

“His loss is deeply felt among members of the police department and other public safety agencies that he worked so closely with,” reads a post by the Wareham Police. “Rest in peace, Dennis, from your brothers and sisters at the WPD.”

Damata was a selectman from 1998 until 2003. In recent years, Damata also worked as a housing inspector.

At the Jan. 19 Board of Selectmen’s meeting, Selectman Patrick Tropeano spoke in memory of Damata.

“Dennis was a good friend of mine for many many years, and served on the Board of Selectmen with me,” Tropeano said. “He fought a good fight.”

The board held a moment of silence in his memory.

“Dennis will be missed, big time,” Tropeano said.

At the board’s Jan. 26 meeting, the board also unanimously voted to lower town flags for three days — the longest flags can be lowered — to honor Demata and firefighter David Wahlstrom, who also passed last week.  

Damata’s family plans to hold funeral services and a celebration of his life after the threat of the pandemic wanes, according to his obituary.

Note: This story has been updated to include additional information about the town’s decision to lower the flags in Demata’s honor.