Suspect Crashes MV after Fleeing from Commercial Burglary

Billerica Police | MA Posted on by

Billerica – On Monday, October 4, 2021 at approximately 3:55 AM Billerica PD received a call from a commercial alarm company reporting an alarm activation at Speedway Gas Station, located at 192 Boston Road, North Billerica with an unknown male suspect reportedly stealing items from the closed store. Officers immediately responded to the alarm, arriving within 3 minutes. On arrival to the area officers observed the front glass door to the gas station smashed out, allowing full access to the Speedway store.

Responding officers immediately identified a suspect motor vehicle fleeing from the scene at a high rate of speed headed northbound on Boston Road towards Lowell. Upon activating their emergency lights in an attempt to stop the fleeing motor vehicle, officers traveled northbound on Boston Road where they observed multiple damaged residential trash receptacles and garbage in the roadway along the path the suspect vehicle had fled. Immediately north of The Point at 3North, an apartment complex located at 71 Boston Road, Officers came upon the suspect vehicle, which had apparently crashed into a telephone pole on the southbound side of the roadway. Officers observed multiple electrical transmission wires that were suspended by the telephone pole now coming down just over the crashed vehicle. The suspect vehicle was heavily damaged from the crash and was occupied by two suspects who were trapped inside the vehicle. The roadway was immediately shut down and the scene secured while Billerica Fire emergency crews and EMS personnel were dispatched to assist with the extrication of the occupants. National Grid was also summoned to the scene to assist with the downed power lines. After about 40 minutes on scene, crews were able to extricate a male operator and female passenger from the vehicle, both of whom suffered unknown injuries. Both individuals were subsequently transported to Lahey Clinic for emergency medical treatment. At this time the incident is under investigation by the Billerica Police, along with the assistance of the Massachusetts State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section (CARS). No further information is available at this time.

Any additional questions should be directed to Deputy Chief Roy Frost, 978-215-9653 or via email at
rfrost @ billericapolice.org

US Census Activity

Billerica Police | MA Posted on by

US Census Bureau employees will be conducting door to door surveys over the coming weeks.

How can residents identify Census Bureau workers?

 

 

The census taker or field representative will present an US Government ID badge that includes:

  • their name,
  • their photograph,
  • a Department of Commerce watermark, and
  • an expiration date.

The Field Representative scheduled to be in the area is Mark J. Raus.

They will have an official bag and Census Bureau-issued electronic device, such as a laptop or smartphone, bearing the Census Bureau logo.Census takers and field representatives will conduct their work between the hours of 9am and 9pm, local time.

We are encouraging all residents, when in doubt, please call the New York Regional Office for verification at 1-800-991-2520. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time.

Please see attached image for examples of census credentials.

Census Workers WILL NEVER ASK for the following information:

  • To enter a home,
  • Social Security numbers or immigration status,
  • Income, bank account numbers, or any financial information,
  • PINs or passwords,
  • a donation or money.

Census

National Night Out 2021

Billerica Police | MA Posted on by

The Billerica Police Department will be celebrating National Night Out
August 3, 2021 from 5 PM -10PM
BILLERICA TOWN HALL
365 Boston Road

National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnership and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighbors safer, better places to live.  It provides an opportunity for our Men and Women in blue to build relationships with our citizens.  We will be partnering with the Billerica Recreation Department who will be sponsoring a movie night at the Billerica High School’s outside movie screen from 8 pm-10pm.

Chris Herrick is Massachusetts’ highest rated strolling magician! He specializes in dynamic and interactive close-up magic entertainment for community events.  Chris has entertained many people through magic and illusions.  His illusions are guaranteed to give our guests the best magic experience they’ve ever had!

We are proud to announce the following agencies that will be participating:

Billerica Police, Paramedic, Fire, Animal Control, and Public works departments will have various vehicles on display.

Billerica K-9 team will be conducting demonstrations in conjunction with other Law Enforcement Agencies

Middlesex County House of Correction will display the Bear Cat armored vehicle

Billerica recreation department will have various games to play

 

Fatal Motor Vehicle Crash

Billerica Police | MA Posted on by

Billerica – On Wednesday, April 14, 2021, at approximately 3:37 pm, the Billerica Police received multiple Emergency 911 calls reporting a vehicle had struck a tree on Concord Road at the corner of French Street. Callers reported that the vehicle had gone up over the curb and stuck a tree, which subsequently fell along the side of Concord Road. On arrival units found that two Good Samaritans had attempted to render aid to the operator and sole occupant of the vehicle, described as a 2000 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck. Billerica Police took over care of the victim along with Fire and Paramedic units that quickly arrived on scene to assist. The victim was transported to Lahey Hospital in Burlington with serious life threatening injuries where he was later pronounced deceased. The victim is identified as William Collins, 61, of North Billerica. The Billerica Police Department extends its sincerest condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Collins.

At this time the single car collision does not appear to involve any foul play. The specific cause of the collision is being investigated by the Billerica Police with the assistance of the Massachusetts State Police Accident Reconstruction Unit and the Middlesex DA Office. Concord Road is fully open at this time.

Any additional questions regarding the above matter should be directed to Deputy Chief Roy Frost at 978-215-9653.

Billerica Police Department partners with the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office to complete interactive, scenario-based training

Billerica Police | MA Posted on by

BILLERICA, Mass. – Forty-four (44) members of the Billerica Police Department (BPD) recently completed four days of interactive, scenario-based training in partnership with the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office (MSO), utilizing the office’s Mobile Training Center (MTC), Police Chief Daniel Rosa and Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian announced today.

The MTC is a specialized trailer that allows officers the ability to train for real-life situations and scenarios utilizing video simulations of incidents they may encounter during their duties, with a heavy emphasis placed on communication and de-escalation skills. BPD officers who participated in the training went through a series of scenarios focused on domestic disturbances, mental health crises, traffic stops and threats to schools.

“The MTC is an invaluable and unique training tool,” said Sheriff Koutoujian. “The MTC requires officers to utilize the full depth and breadth of their training and allows departmental instructors the ability to provide immediate feedback to officers on each scenario. We are proud to once again be able to partner with Chief Rosa and our Billerica Police Department colleagues to make this training available.”

“We are grateful for the partnership and support we continually receive from Sheriff Koutoujian and his staff at the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office,” said Chief Rosa. “This type of training is invaluable in keeping our officers’ knowledge, skills and abilities at a high level of development. Thanks to the unique features of the Mobile Training Center, our officers are able to use their actual tools in real-time scenarios with an emphasis on de-escalation as the preferred outcome. We consistently receive positive feedback from all of our officers after the training.”

The MTC was purchased by the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office with federal grant funds in 2010 and has been utilized by numerous local municipal and university police departments. In 2020, more than 875 officers participated in trainings in the MTC.

Billerica PD – MTC2: A member of the Billerica Police Department participates in a traffic stop scenario inside the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office Mobile Training Center during the week of February 14-20. Photo courtesy of the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office

 

Billerica PD – MTC Group: Middlesex Sheriff’s Office Officer Edward Welch (from left to right), Billerica Police Patrolman Rich Avant, Police Billerica Police Chief Daniel Rosa and Middlesex Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian during a visit to the Mobile Training Center. Photo courtesy of the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office

Front Line Regional Police Collaborative Expands Mental Health Support for Staff and Community and announces ‘One Stop Shop’ Online Mental Health Resource to deal with effects of COVID

Billerica Police | MA Posted on by

The Front Line Initiative integrates self-care prevention platform from CredibleMind into mental health support program in Tewksbury, Billerica, Chelmsford, Dracut and Tyngsborough Massachusetts

January 15, 2021— With citizens and police staff grappling with the confluence of a pandemic, civil unrest, and financial insecurity, the Front Line Initiative has expanded its spectrum of mental health services and programs to include CredibleMind’s self-care prevention platform. The Initiative currently helps provide residents of Chelmsford, Billerica, Dracut, Tewksbury and Tyngsborough, Massachusetts with access to mental health clinicians and peer support staff. The Initiative, thus far, has saved millions of dollars in emergency room diversion and criminal custody diversion costs. Now the Initiative wants to decrease the overall incidence by expanding from treating the crisis to preventing the illness crisis through self-care.

Facing access and stigma issues, self-care approaches have become a fundamental pillar of mental health, widening access to well-being strategies, and reducing the burden on the current care network. Self-care emphasizes the active role of people in purposeful and continuous care, helping create more positive and resilient individuals. CredibleMind brings to the Initiative the most comprehensive self-care solution, promoting mental wellness, preventing mental illness, and intervening at the beginning of illness. The customized platform provides education and supportive interventions to reduce or eliminate risk factors throughout the community and police force.

“Since 2016 we’ve been providing our communities with a direct connection to behavioral health and substance use services in a whole-person, trauma-informed way,” said Matthew Page-Shelton, M.F.A, M.Ed., LMHC, Regional Director of The Front Line Initiative. “The pandemic has only amplified how essential this support is and CredibleMind is a key component to broadening our reach and integrating prevention and early intervention strategies,” he added.

“We have seen first-hand how the stressors of today’s fast paced life have impacted our community’s health and well-being. As a collaborative, we are excited to offer these proven internet based self-help tools to our community, bringing the power of safe and immediate access to a range of self-care prevention platforms to everyone with access to a computer”, says Chief Daniel Rosa.

“Given recent tensions and the plethora of current health, social and economic stressors, it’s an important strategy to proactively support the mental health of both the police force and community served,” said Deryk Van Brunt, Ph.D., and CEO of CredibleMind. “With the vast majority of people seeking mental health interventions on their own, CredibleMind provides the Initiative a personalized approach for navigating thousands of evidence-based health promotion and disease prevention self-care strategies.”

“As feelings of uncertainty, vulnerability, anxiety, isolation and loneliness are taking their toll on citizens across our communities we felt it was important to seek out new innovative ways of engaging with our communities,” Matthew Page-Shelton Regional Director for Front Line stated. “95% of those individuals will reach out online to look for information.”

With over 240 topics CredibleMind provides access to a wide range of evidence-based resources that are not meant to replace appropriate professional in-person care, but as a tool to find information. All information accessed and submitted on the online resource by residents is confidential and anonymous.

This new online resource can be accessed as of January 15th 2021 at https://frontline.crediblemind.com