Billerica Police | MA

K9 KC, pictured here, is a 11-week-old black Labrador who is named after Billerica Police Officer Kenneth Collins, who gave his life in the line of duty in 1969. (Photo Courtesy Billerica Police Department)

BILLERICA — Chief Roy Frost reports that the Billerica Police Department will name its newest K9 after Officer Kenneth Collins, who gave his life in the line of duty in 1969.

KC, an 11-week-old puppy, was named by Officer Collins’ widow Margie Collins, who passed away at age 95 last week. Margie Collins chose the name KC over a proposed name of Collins. The Collins family met KC at Margie Collins’ funeral last week.

Officer Collins, who had served Billerica Police for 10 years, died as a result of head injuries he suffered while responding to a fight at a local bar on Oct. 7, 1969. He left behind his wife, father, two brothers and five children.

Billerica Police began naming K9s after fallen police officers about three years ago. The first was K9 Cassius, named after fallen Officer Cassius White, who was killed in the line of duty in 1939. K9 Cassius is now 3 years old and certified in tracking. K9 Cassius and Officer Joseph LaMarca will soon train to become certified in evidence recovery as well.

K9 Cassius and K9 KC will serve alongside K9 Skye, who is now 7 years old. K9 Skye is trained in both tracking and evidence recovery. She was not named after a fallen officer, though the department’s next new K9 will be.

K9 KC will start training next Spring. She is living with Skye’s handler, Sgt. Rocco Magliozzi, and undergoing basic obedience training.

Once K9 KC is trained in tracking, she will additionally be trained in either narcotics or explosive ordinance detection, while K9 Cassius will be trained in whichever discipline K9 KC is not.

Both K9 Cassius and K9 KC were donated as puppies to the Billerica Police Department by Foxbend Labs, of Hillsborough, NH.

All Billerica Police K9s receive training from the Connecticut State Police K9 Unit, and they are all certified through the New England State Police Administrators Conference (NESPAC).

“It was our honor to be able to name KC after Officer Kenneth Collins. This is yet another way in which we seek to keep Officer Collins, and all other fallen officers of the Billerica Police Department, alive in our memories. Margie Collins and her children were very excited as they decided on KC as the name of the future police K9.  It was definitely gratifying to be able to introduce KC to the Collins family last week during Margie Collins funeral services at Sweeneys Funeral Home in Billerica,” said Chief Frost. “I want to thank Foxbend Labs for donating another puppy to use. Foxbend Labs have been a major supporter of the Billerica Police K9 program, and we could not be more grateful.”

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KC at 11 weeks old

The family of fallen Billerica Police Officer Kenneth Collins stands with Billerica Police K9 KC, who is named in Officer Collins’ honor. K9 KC was able to visit the funeral of Officer Collins’ widow, Margie, who passed away last week at age 95. (Photo Courtesy Billerica Police Department)

Billerica Police commanders stand with seven new police officers at the Billerica Police Memorial outside of the police station. From left are Sgt. Cory Bandouveres, Officer Joseph Zuccaro, Lt. Robert Beloin, Officer Samuel Hawkes, Officer Thomas Cranson, Officer Matthew Irwin, Chief Roy Frost, Officer Aaron Sprague, Officer John Eldridge, Lt. Commander John Harring, and Officer Aaron Welborn. (Photo Courtesy Billerica Police Department)

BILLERICA — Chief Roy Frost is pleased to report that the Billerica Police Department is welcoming seven new police officers who graduated from police academies.

Officers Aaron Welborn and Matthew Irwin graduated on Feb. 14 from the Municipal Police Training Committee (MPTC) Police Academy in Haverhill. Officers Joseph Zuccaro, Aaron Sprague, Samuel Hawkes, and Thomas Cranson graduated on Feb. 28 from the MPTC Police Academy in Lynnfield.

All six officers are now undergoing a 12-week Field Training Program, working under the direct supervision of a more experienced officer.  Also undergoing Field Training is Officer John Eldridge, who graduated in January of 2024 from the MPTC Police Academy in Lynnfield. Officer Eldridge deployed to Iraq with the Massachusetts National Guard shortly after completing the police academy and returned to duty in Billerica on Feb. 21.

Officer John Eldridge

“I am extremely pleased that, amid nationwide issues with recruitment, we were able to find seven well-qualified candidates to become police officers in our community,” said Chief Frost. “I’m also pleased to welcome Officer Eldridge back to Billerica. I look forward to seeing where all seven of these individuals end up in their careers.”

Officer Joseph Zuccaro

Officer Zuccaro is a nearly life-long Billerica resident who played youth sports in town and graduated from Billerica Memorial High School in 2011. He earned a bachelor’s in criminal justice and psychology from the University of New Haven in 2015. Officer Zuccaro spent five years working as a special education paraprofessional in Brookline and Lexington. In 2019, he became a probation officer, working in Waltham and Concord District Courts and Roxbury Municipal Court.

“Working for the Billerica Police Department allows me to continue to help and serve individuals and finally allows me to give back to the community that I grew up in,” said Officer Zuccaro.

Officer Aaron Welborn

Officer Welborn grew up in Baltimore and served in both the United States Air Force and the United States Coast Guard, serving for a total of 14 years. He grew to like Massachusetts while stationed here and was drawn to a career in law enforcement.

“I wanted to become a police officer because I’ve always been drawn to helping people and wanted to be a part of something bigger than myself,” said Officer Welborn. “I’m extremely excited for this opportunity to serve the town.”

Officer Aaron Sprague

Officer Sprague is a Billerica native who graduated from Billerica Memorial High School in 2019. He earned an associate’s degree in criminal justice from Middlesex Community College, and a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from UMass Lowell. Prior to completing the police academy, Officer Sprague worked for the U.S. Postal Service.

“I’m both honored and excited to begin serving this great community as part of its police department,” said Officer Sprague. “I look forward to being able to help those in need and make a positive impact on people’s lives.”

Officer Matthew Irwin

Officer Irwin is a Billerica native who graduated from Shawsheen Valley Technical High School, where he studied HVAC. He earned a bachelor’s degree in criminology from Framingham State University, where he also played ice hockey. Officer Irwin worked in construction before completing the police academy.

“Growing up, I always knew that I wanted to be a police officer, and having the ability to do so in the town that I grew up in is an incredible honor. I am very excited to get started,” said Officer Irwin.

Officer Samuel Hawkes

Officer Hawkes is a Billerica native who graduated in 2021 from Billerica Memorial High School, where he played ice hockey. Officer Hawkes has worked in construction since graduation.

“I wanted to become a police officer in my hometown to serve and protect the community where I grew up,” said Officer Hawkes. “I am very happy to join Billerica Police, and I look forward to meeting the many great people around the Town of Billerica.”

Officer Thomas Cranson

Officer Cranson’s a Belmont native who moved to Billerica while attending Arlington Catholic High School. He earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Westfield State University. Officer Cranson worked as a security officer at Lahey Hospital and Medical Center in Burlington.

“I became a police officer because I wanted to serve my community and try to make a positive impact on the people that I interact with. This has always been a lifelong goal of mine and look forward to serving the Billerica Community with pride,” said Officer Cranson.

Seven new police officers who are undergoing 12-week Field Training Programs stand together at the Billerica Police Department. (Photo Courtesy Billerica Police Department)- Note: Officer John Eldridge pictured on far left

BILLERICA — Chief Roy Frost announces that the Billerica Police Department arrested a third suspect in connection with a break-in at a local VFW post.

PETER GEORGE POULAKOS, 32, OF LOWELL, was arrested and charged with:

• Breaking & Entering Nighttime for Felony
• Conspiracy
• Larceny Over $1,200
• Break Into Depository
• Larceny from a Building

Peter George Poulakos, 32, of Lowell

On Monday, Jan. 13, around 8 a.m., police were called to the Solomon VFW Post, 12 Phiney St., for a report of a break-in and stolen safe. A janitorial employee entered the building that morning and noticed the safe was missing. The bartender said the safe was still inside the location when they left the previous night.

A subsequent investigation used evidence found at the scene and surveillance footage from the area to develop information on a pickup truck that was used to transport the safe away from the VFW. Police subsequently identified POULAKOS, CHRISTOPHER JOHN SILVA, 53, OF LOWELL, and SAN SIN, 47, OF LOWELL, as suspects. The safe was discarded in Lowell and recovered by police as the investigation was ongoing.

On Wednesday, Jan. 15, Billerica Police, assisted by the Northeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council (NEMLEC), Lowell Police and Chelmsford Police, executed a search warrant related to the investigation at an address on Wright Street in Lowell.

As a result of the search warrant, police located cash and evidence related to the break-in and theft of the safe. Police subsequently arrested SILVA and SIN without further incident. A fourth individual, a 49-year-old Lowell man, will be summonsed to court at a later date to face charges in connection with the incident.

On Friday, Jan. 17, at approximately 8:30 a.m., Billerica Police, with assistance from Lowell Police, located POULAKOS at the home on Wright Street in Lowell where the search warrant was previously served. POULAKOS was taken into custody without further incident.

POULAKOS will be arraigned Friday in Lowell District Court.

SILVA and SIN were arraigned previously, and their cases remain pending.

These are allegations. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.