For Immediate Release

Thursday, Feb. 15, 2018

Contact: Benjamin Paulin
Phone:  781-428-3299
Email: ben@jgpr.net

East Bridgewater Police Sergeant Helps Local Student with Prom Proposal

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EAST BRIDGEWATER — An East Bridgewater Police sergeant made a special traffic stop last week in order to help a local student ask his girlfriend to prom.

Last week, East Bridgewater Police Sgt. Michael McLaughlin was approached by senior Jake Topham, who asked him if he could help with his prom proposal to his girlfriend Eva Rohnstrom. Topham, an East Bridgewater resident, is a student at Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical High School in Easton. Rohnstrom attends West Bridgewater High School.

When Sgt. McLaughlin heard Topham’s idea, he agreed to help and the two devised a plan together.

On Friday, Feb. 9, Topham went to pick up Rohnstrom at her work in West Bridgewater. As part of the ruse, he said he had to make a stop at his father’s house before dropping her off at home.

Topham turned his pickup truck onto Laurel Street in East Bridgewater where Sgt. McLaughlin was waiting in his cruiser.

Sgt. McLaughlin activated his lights and pulled Topham over to the side of the road. Wearing a GoPro camera affixed to his chest, Sgt. McLaughlin recorded a video of the prank.

“Apparently there was some kind of incident in West Bridgewater and they want this truck for some reason,” Sgt. McLaughlin said in the video to the teens.

Keeping a straight face, Topham got out of his truck along with Rohnstrom, and Sgt. McLaughlin asked that they both get into the back of his cruiser.

Rohnstrom got in first and Sgt. McLaughlin closed the cruiser door behind her. On the other side of the vehicle, he handed Topham a paper sign that read, “I’ll pay for this ticket if you come to prom with me.”

Sgt. McLaughlin opened the cruiser door and Topham showed his girlfriend the sign.

“I hate you so much!” Rohnstrom yelled. “How did you even do that?”

“I’ve got friends of friends,” Topham said with a smirk. Topham played lacrosse with  Sgt. McLaughlin’s son.

After letting her out of the cruiser, Rohnstrom agreed to go to prom with Topham as he gave her a hug.

“It was fun. The kids got a kick out of it,” Sgt. McLaughlin said. “While this isn’t something that we normally do, I was very happy to help.”

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