Kalisz Talks About The Death Of Former Veterans’ Agent

Donald Depina, a cab driver and former Veterans' Agent for the City of New Bedford, was shot and killed this weekend.

Gregg Miliote a spokesman with the Bristol County District Attorney's Office says police found him in Brooklawn Park around 11 p.m. Saturday and took him to St. Luke's Hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

Former Mayor Fred Kalisz spoke with WBSM's Phil Paleologos Monday morning calling Depina was one of his earliest supporters and one of the first people he asked to join his administration.

"Donald was out there campaigning every morning, and then when it was decided that we had won the election, he was among the first that I asked to please join me and he was just thrilled," said Kalisz "and I was thrilled to have him."

Depina accepted a position as the city's Veterans' Agent, a job that Kalisz said was quite challenging.

"Being in the Veteran's Affairs you're dealing with not only Vietnam, Korea, World War II, and the beginning of everything that came with the Bush Administrations, the first Bush," said Kalisz "so Donald had his plate full and dealt with a whole series of issues, not only in New Bedford, but in Massachusetts, Freetown, and his everyday life."

Kalisz also says that Depina was on the forefront of many veterans' issues.

"Don went back to Vietnam and addressed issues clinically with a special team...on the whole concept of PTSD that Vietnam Veterans were encountering and was in the forefront," said Kalisz "he was one of the first 12 veterans from Massachusetts, to participate with the University of Massachusetts in looking at this issue."

The incident remains under investigation.