Billerica Police | MA

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.

New Medical Director of Billerica EMS Robert Obrien

Medical Director Joseph Devlin

BILLERICA — Police Chief Roy Frost is pleased to report that EMS Director Joe Devlin is retiring from a 32-year career with the Town of Billerica. Devlin will be replaced as director by Paramedic Robert O’Brien, who has worked for the town for 20 years.

Director Devlin will retire from a 32-year career on Jan. 24. He was hired as a paramedic with Billerica EMS in 1993 and rose through the department’s ranks as it expanded over the years.  In 2011, Devlin was promoted to EMS Supervisor. He became EMS director in 2021, overseeing 16 full-time paramedics and a department that operates two 24/7 ambulances for the town.
Director Devlin oversaw the department as it expanded to operating two 24/7 ambulances in 2016 due to increased call volume in town.  As EMS Director, Devlin coordinated EMS services in town throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Working directly with the Board of Health, along with Billerica Fire and Emergency Management, Director Delvin was instrumental in helping to coordinate a local public health response to the pandemic. He also helped coordinate the creation of a Town of Billerica COVID-19 testing site in November 2020, a period of time when many people in Massachusetts had limited access to reliable testing.

“I want to thank Director Devlin for his 32 years of exceptional service to the Town of Billerica,” said Chief Frost. “Director Devlin oversaw both an expansion of our EMS services, as well as our response to the COVID-19 pandemic. His professionalism and experience will be greatly missed.”

Director Devlin will be replaced by Paramedic O’Brien, who has been with the Town of Billerica for 20 years out of his more than 27-year career in EMS. O’Brien was chosen from among six finalists for the position, following a very competitive open application period.  Director O’Brien is a nationally certified paramedic who has worked as the Clinical Coordinator for Billerica EMS since 2016, overseeing quality assurance and improvement.  Director O’Brien holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Clark University, and a certificate in Paramedic Medicine from Quinsigamond College. He previously worked for Norwood Hospital and Action Ambulance.

The transition to a new EMS Director will take place over the next few weeks leading to Director Devlin’s retirement on Jan. 24.
“I am confident that our interview process identified Paramedic O’Brien as the candidate most ready, motivated and well-suited to bring Billerica EMS into the future, while also continuing to focus on the services’ well-earned tradition of high-quality emergency patient care and community engagement,” said Chief Frost.

Chief Roy Frost pinning newly appointed Medical Director Robert Obrien

Town Manager Clancy Main along with Selectboard Members Mike Riley, John Burrows, Mike Rosa and Dina Favreau along with members from Billerica EMS and Police