Late Night Shooting at Regan Park

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday, May 26, 2020 Contact: John Guilfoil Phone: 617-993-0003 Email: john@jgpr.net

Burlington Police Investigating Weekend Shooting Incident not Believed to be Random

BURLINGTON — Chief Michael Kent reports that the Burlington Police Department is investigating a shooting incident that occurred over the holiday weekend. On Saturday, May 23 at approximately 2 a.m., Burlington Police were notified of a non-fatal shooting that had occurred sometime after midnight. The victim was treated at an area hospital and is expected to make a full recovery. Through the initial investigation, officers learned that the shooting had occurred at Regan Park on Sumpter Road. Officers and detectives responded to the park and processed the scene for evidence. Burlington Police are actively investigating this incident and do not believe that the incident was random. The department has increased patrols in the area with uniformed and plainclothes officers out of an abundance of caution. Chief Kent would like to thank Burlington residents for their cooperation during the initial investigation. Anyone who may have information regarding the incident is asked to contact Burlington detectives at 781-272-1212. ###

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Our 2019 RAD Women’s Self-Defense Course is being offered from Tuesday April 16th through Tuesday May 14th (5 Nights) from 6 to 9 p.m. – this program is FREE but we ask students to attend all 5 nights.  Sign up here: https://goo.gl/forms/iCdEnroYxAIb8IP33

We are also offering a FREE RAD for Seniors Safety and Self-Defense class for Men + Women aged 60 and over. RAD for Seniors is a 15 hour long program to be offered over 10 sessions. Classes will run for 5 weeks on Tuesdays and Fridays from 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. The course will start on Tuesday March 26, 2019. The last class will be on Thursday April 26, 2019. If you are interested in this program please contact Officer Lyn Reynolds 781-505-4958 or email lreynolds@bpd.org to sign up. All classes will be held at the Burlington Council on Aging.

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Burlington Police Offer Tips to Avoid Package Theft During the Holiday Season

Monday, Nov. 27, 2017 Contact: John Guilfoil Phone: 617-993-0003 Email: john@jgpr.net

BURLINGTON – As part of their ongoing 12 Days of safety tips for the holiday season, Chief Michael Kent and the Burlington Police Department are reminding residents of several safety precautions when ordering items online to ensure that their gifts don’t fall into the wrong hands. “My hope is that residents will take the threat of package theft seriously and will be careful to ensure their packages arrive as expected,” Chief Kent said. “There are several ways to keep your valuables from falling into the wrong hands, and our officers will be vigilant during their patrols throughout the season in keeping an eye out foranything or anyone that seems suspicious.” FedEx and UPS offer services to assist customers during the holidays. To best ensure that your packages are not taken, Burlington Police recommend the following strategies: Request notifications on your deliveries, via phone or email, to monitor your packages in transit and upon delivery. Always require a signature on your deliveries to ensure packages are never left unattended. Consider sending deliveries to an alternate location that someone will be able to receive them – whether that be a workplace, a neighbor of friend’s house, or a FedEx or UPS location. Schedule your delivery for a specific date and time that you’re expected to be home. Set up a vacation hold if you plan on traveling during the holidays so gifts won’t be left on the doorstep. If you find your package has been stolen, reach out to police and report it immediately. Never accept a surprise delivery where a payment is required, and never give out personal information when receiving a delivery that you purchased. ###

 

Burlington Police Announce 12 Days of Holiday Safety Tips

Friday, Nov. 24, 2017
Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net
Burlington Police Announce 12 Days of Holiday Safety Tips
Officers Increase Patrols in Shopping Areas to Prevent Theft
BURLINGTON – Chief Michael Kent announces that this holiday season, the Burlington Police Department will be providing 12 days of safety tips to residents on a variety of topics.

These safety tips are part of the Burlington Police Department’s ongoing community policing initiative, which aims to keep the public informed and safe throughout the year, and especially during the holiday season.

Throughout the day, as residents head out for Black Friday shopping, there will be an increased presence of Burlington Police officers in shopping areas, especially in and around the Burlington Mall, 75 Middlesex Turnpike, and throughout 3rd Ave.

Burlington Police are actively working to curb retail theft, shoplifting, breaking and entering into motor vehicles, purse snatching, robbery and traffic and parking related problems.

“With today being one of the busiest shopping days of the year, we want community members to rest assured that we will be monitoring busy retail areas to prevent theft and assist with traffic flow,” Chief Kent said. “We want to remind residents to drive carefully, especially when navigating through the mall, and as always, if you see something suspicious, report it to police.”

Suspicious activity can be reported to the Burlington Police Department at 781-272-1212.

###

Burlington Police Department

Chief Michael Kent
45 Center St
Burlington, MA 01803

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

Burlington Police Department Receives AmeriCorps Grant from P.A.A.R.I. to Combat Opioid Addiction

Full-Time Program Coordinator and Part-Time Recovery Coach to Enhance Program

Margie Taylor will serve as the AmeriCorps Program Coordinator in Burlington.

BURLINGTON — Chief Michael R. Kent is pleased to announce that the Burlington Police Department has joined the Police Assisted Addiction and Recovery Initiative (P.A.A.R.I.) and received an AmeriCorps grant from P.A.A.R.I. to bring on a full-time program coordinator and a part-time recovery coach to enhance the department’s substance abuse prevention and recovery efforts.

This groundbreaking new statewide program, which launched earlier this month achieves synergy by combining the powers of community service, the recovery community, and police-based referral programs. Under the P.A.A.R.I./AmeriCorps program, 25 AmeriCorps members are being placed in host police department sites throughout Massachusetts.

P.A.A.R.I./AmeriCorps members will build the capacity of law enforcement programs and assist those suffering from substance use disorders by connecting them to treatment and recovery services that divert them from the criminal justice system. Burlington was one of several police departments selected to receive an AmeriCorps grant from P.A.A.R.I. to bring on AmeriCorps members to prevent overdose deaths and provide vital resources to community members with substance use disorders.

“The opioid crisis has touched virtually every city and town within the Commonwealth,” Chief Kent said. “We are very committed to our new partnership forged through the P.A.A.R.I./AmeriCorps Program and we are confident that together, we can make a very positive impact on people and families within our community,” said Chief Kent.

P.A.A.R.I. received a three-year grant from the Massachusetts Service Alliance and the Corporation for National and Community Service to launch this first-of-its-kind program, which is placing 25 AmeriCorps members at host police departments across Massachusetts and assisting with local police-led addiction and recovery programs in light of the growing opioid epidemic.

“P.A.A.R.I.’s mission is to provide resources to help law enforcement agencies combat the opioid epidemic and this innovative program will add significant capacity to our law enforcement partners and utilize service as a solution to address critical community needs,” said P.A.A.R.I. Executive Director Allie Hunter McDade. “We are thrilled that Burlington Police Department has signed on as a partner for the inaugural year of the program.”

Burlington Police Department Introduces Margie Taylor as its new full-time Program Coordinator and Jackie Tayabji as its new part-time Recovery Coach

Chief Michael R. Kent is pleased to welcome Margie Taylor and Jackie Tayabji as Burlington Police Department’s new full-time program coordinator and new part-time recovery coach, respectively. They will be working at the Burlington Police Department through the P.A.A.R.I./AmeriCorps Program. Together with the Burlington Police Department, Margie and Jackie will serve the community by providing outreach, support, and treatment referrals for individuals with substance use disorders and their families. Margie and Jackie both recently completed training through the Department of Public Health, Bureau of Substance Addiction Services. They will use their training and life experience to connect with and support those who are active drug users, those who have recently overdosed, those seeking treatment, and those in early recovery. Margie and Jackie are both truly passionate about helping others and they are eager to help launch this new project.

About AmeriCorps:

AmeriCorps is a civil society program that engages adults in public service work with a goal of helping others and meeting critical needs in the community. Members commit to full-time or part-time positions offered by a network of nonprofit community organizations and public agencies to fulfill assignments in the fields of education, public safety, healthcare, and environmental protection. There are more than 75,000 Americans in service each year.

About P.A.A.R.I.:

The Police Assisted Addiction and Recovery Initiative (P.A.A.R.I.) is a 501c3 nonprofit with a mission to help law enforcement agencies establish pre-arrest programs that create immediate and stigma-free entry points to treatment and recovery programs. P.A.A.R.I. works across sectors to provide: training, coaching, and support; program models, policies and procedures, and templates; seed grants; connections to over 300 vetted treatment centers; a network of like-minded law enforcement agencies; a unified voice with media and legislators; and capacity-building through AmeriCorps. P.A.A.R.I. is free to join and open to any law enforcement agency that believes in treatment over arrest and views addiction as a disease not a crime. Since June 2015, P.A.A.R.I. has launched more than 320 law enforcement programs in 31 states, distributed 10,000 4mg doses of life-saving nasal naloxone, and helped over 12,000 people into treatment.

 

 

Jackie Tayabji will join the Burlington Police Department as a Recovery Coach.

A Message from the Burlington Police Department

Burlington Police to Conduct Alcohol Compliance Checks of Local Establishments

BURLINGTON — Chief Michael Kent announces that the Burlington Police Department will be continuing to conduct alcohol compliance checks at local businesses throughout the remainder of the year.

“The purpose of these compliance checks is to educate license holders about the importance of complying with local and state laws pertaining to the sale of alcohol, and to remain vigilant in ensuring that no alcoholic beverages are sold to underage persons,” Chief Kent said. “We hope to find all licensees to be in compliance.”

Lawful alcohol compliance checks are vital in ensuring that establishments obey the laws pertaining to the sale of alcohol, especially with regard to underage drinking. Alcohol consumption by minors has a profound effect on the community and is related to motor vehicle crashes, crime, poor performance in school, and a number of other behaviors that could have an adverse impact on the quality of life in town.

Burlington Police intend to conduct compliance checks over the next several months and will continue to do so throughout the year to ensure the safety of youth in the community and that licensed establishments are in compliance with the law.

The Burlington Police Department would like to thank the community for their continued efforts and support.

Any questions pertaining to this information may be directed to Detective Sergeant Timothy McDonough at tmcdonough@bpd.org or 781-272-1212 ext. 4943.

Burlington Police Department Michael R. Kent, Chief of Police 45 Center Street Burlington, MA 01803

Burlington Fire Department Chief Steve Yetman 21 Center Street Burlington, MA 01803

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Saturday, May 6, 2017 Contact: John Guilfoil Phone: 781-791-7627 Email: john@jgpr.net

Photos: Burlington Police and Fire Host Active Shooter Drill at Mall

The Burlington Police and Fire Departments hosted a number of agencies for an active shooter drill at the Burlington Mall late last month. (Photo Courtesy of Alyssa Papsedero)

BURLINGTON – Police Chief Michael Kent and Fire Chief Steve Yetman report that the Burlington Police and Fire Departments hosted a number of agencies late last month for a successful active shooter drill, which allowed police officers, firefighters, and medics to practice responding to and coordinating resources in the event of an unthinkable incident of violence. Nearly 50 first responders participated in the training, which took place at the Burlington Mall on the evening of Sunday, April 30. The training, hosted in conjunction Simon Property Group and Allied Universal Security, also included police officers from Lexington, Belmont, Billerica, and Bedford, along with personnel from the Northeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council SWAT and RRT units. The Billerica Fire Department and Billerica EMS also participated. “These training sessions, which we hold regularly with our Burlington and neighboring agencies, are an invaluable opportunity to use a real-life venue to practice how we would respond to a critical public safety incident,” Chief Kent said. “These exercises allow us to hone our skills and become more effective in responding to a crisis here or elsewhere, and I am grateful to everyone who participated as well as to our hosts, Simon Property Group, for once again partnering with Burlington Police and Fire for this drill.” Burlington has a population of about 25,000 residents, but it is also home to a large and diverse commercial base. Tens of thousands of commuters come to work here each day. The Burlington Mall is a top shopping destination, and the town has six hotels and two more coming online later this year. During the simulation, officers played the roles of active shooters, walking throughout the mall firing blank rounds. Officers used tactics and best practices to conduct a search and ultimately locate the shooter. The mall setting allowed officers to practice searching hallways, stairways, corridors, utility areas, and wide open areas like the food court. The drill once again made use of the revolutionary Burlington Rescue Task Force (RTF), a combination of the Burlington Police and Fire Departments that teams armed officers with rescue medics who need to be delivered safely to critical areas and patients in need during a violent situation. Participants in the drill were divided into four-member multi-jurisdictional teams. All units completed the training and engaged in a post-training debriefing, where organizers offered both praise and constructive criticism. “The close working partnerships among police and fire departments in this part of the state make us all better prepared to respond to a critical incident,” Chief Yetman said. “These training operations are very important, as they hone our skills and give first responders from several different agencies a chance to work together, just in case the real thing ever happens.” ###

Photo Courtesy of Simon Property Group

Photo Courtesy of Simon Property Group

A Message from the Burlington Police and Fire Departments

Burlington Police Department Finalizing State Accreditation Process

Burlington Police Department Michael R. Kent, Chief of Police 45 Center St. Burlington, MA 01803

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, March. 9, 2017 Media Contact: John Guilfoil Phone: 781-791-7627 Email: john@jgpr.net

Burlington Police Department Finalizing State Accreditation Process

BURLINGTON — Chief Michael Kent is pleased to announce that a team of assessors from the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission is scheduled to arrive on Tuesday, March 21 at 8:45 a.m. to begin examining various aspects of the Burlington Police Department’s policies and procedures, operations and facilities. The assessment team must verify that the Burlington Police Department meets the Commission’s standards as one of the last steps in the voluntary process to gain state accreditation. Accreditation is a self-initiated evaluation process by which police departments strive to meet and maintain standards and best practices that have been established for modern law enforcement agencies. The accreditation program consists of 253 mandatory standards as well as 122 optional standards. In order to achieve accreditation status, the department must meet all applicable mandatory standards as well as 60 percent of the optional standards. Achieving Accreditation is a highly prized recognition of law enforcement professional excellence. Anyone interested in learning more about this program is invited to call Chief Kent or the Department’s Accreditation Manager, Lt. Thomas Browne, at 781-272-1212. ###