Release From School Superintendent Piwowar

Billerica Police | MA Posted on by

Members of the Billerica School Community:

Our thoughts and prayers go out to all the members of the Sandy Hook Elementary School family in Newtown, Connecticut, and especially to the families and friends of the victims of today’s terrible tragedy.  It is incredibly difficult to make sense of the world when an event such as this occurs, and I know that I will be hugging my own two children a little closer tonight as a result.

The safety and well-being of our students is our number one priority as a school system, and with that in mind, I am sharing the attached letter from Kevin Soraghan, Principal of Billerica Memorial High School, regarding rumors of a possible threat at BMHS.  These rumors were thoroughly investigated by both BMHS administration and the Billerica Police Department and it was determined that “a threat was never made to the high school.”  Information regarding this specific circumstance can be found in the letter from Mr. Soraghan, and at no point were any of our students ever in danger.

We are extremely grateful to the Chief Dan Rosa and the Billerica Police Department for their cooperation, but even more importantly, to the students who came forward and shared with us the information that allowed us to conduct our investigation.  We remain steadfastly committed to the safety of our students and will continue to take the necessary steps to ensure that all of our students can learn in a safe environment.

Timothy G. Piwowar
Superintendent of Schools

Paintball and BB-Gun Vandals Targeting Persons and Property

Billerica Police | MA Posted on by

BPD PatchBillerica –  Update: Suspect identified. Charges pending – The Billerica Police have received numerous reports over the past two weeks of property and people being targeted by paint balls. Although the majority of the reported incidents have involved property, there have been a number of cases where individuals themselves are being targeted. On numerous dates in December, including the 5th, 6th, and three times on the 10th, individuals either walking or driving have reported being shot at by suspect(s) driving past them on the roadway. All of these reported incidents occurred in the late afternoon or into the evening hours. In the most recent incidents on December 10th, a forest green SUV type vehicle was described as being involved in the assault. Although the victims received superficial wounds from the projectiles, there have been no reported serious injuries as of this release. However, due to the high velocity and accuracy of a projectile coming from a modern paint ball, air soft and/or bb-gun type weapon, there is a significant potential for serious injury or death when targeting an unsuspecting victim.

The Billerica Police would urge anyone that has knowledge of a person engaging in this type of reckless behavior to immediately report it to the Billerica Police. In the event of an emergency situation, we would urge all residents to utilize the Emergency 911 feature from their home or cellular telephone. If the information is not of an urgent nature, please utilize our business line at 978-671-0900 or via the internet by visiting our department website at www.billericapolice.org. All information will remain anonymous at the caller’s request.

Any additional questions should be directed to Lieutenant Roy Frost, 978-667-1212 x120

New Crime Map Released To Public

Billerica Police | MA Posted on by

The Billerica Police Department and BAIR Analytics Inc. recently partnered to provide a new way for the public to stay informed about crime in Billerica. The Billerica Police Department now has an online crime map called RAIDS Online (www.raidsonline.com) that maps and analyzes crime data, alerts Billerica citizens about crimes in their area, and allows the Billerica Police Department to quickly alert the public about crimes as they occur.

Billerica citizens can view a map and grid with all of the crimes in their area, sign up for neighborhood watch reports that automatically email a breakdown of recent crime activity, and submit an anonymous tip about a crime directly to their law enforcement agency. RAIDS Online automatically syncs with the Billerica Police Department’s records system to keep crime information updated online and in the mobile app.  RAIDS Online cleans and geocodes the crime data, then displays all of the incidents on a map, grid and analytics dashboard along with some basic information about the incidents, including the type of crime, location type, block-level address, date and time.

“The Billerica Police Department’s participation in RAIDS Online highlights their commitment to proactive communication with the public they serve,” said Sean Bair, founder of BAIR Analytics, “We’re excited to partner with the Billerica Police Department to provide this free service for their public.”

Typically, agencies can spend thousands of dollars annually through other crime mapping providers. BAIR Analytics offers RAIDS Online and the RAIDS Online Mobile app as a free service to any law enforcement agency that wishes to participate.  RAIDS Online is ad-free and BAIR Analytics does not sell the data to third party vendors, thus the agency remains in complete control over their data. “We wanted to do something to help law enforcement in these tough economic times. We consider this a basic service that we are more than happy to provide to the public and our law enforcement friends,” said Bair, a former police officer and analyst.

RAIDS Online Mobile

RAIDS Online Mobile empowers citizens to better understand crime trends and lower crime in their area. Recent crime incidents are displayed on a map or listed in a grid.  Users can click on an incident for more information or display a hotspot map based on the crimes that are currently in display. Users can also sign up for neighborhood watch reports that automatically email any recent crime activity on a daily, weekly or monthly schedule. The app makes all of this information accessible anywhere from a user’s mobile device. The RAIDS Online Mobile app is available for FREE on the App Store.

Anyone can visit Billerica’s crime map at:
http://www.raidsonline.com/?address=Billerica%20MA

About BAIR Analytics

Established in 1997, BAIR Analytics is an analytical software and services company providing innovative tools and subject-matter expertise for public safety, private security, national security and defense entities. Nearly half of the largest public-safety agencies in the United States use BAIR’s products & services to fight crime.  BAIR’s customers also include Wal-Mart, Target, ATF, and the US Department of Defense. In 2012 BAIR Analytics was honored as a top 50 Colorado company and made its debut as one of the fastest-growing private companies in America on the Inc. 500/5000 list. For more information, visit www.bairanalytics.com.

Press contacts
Brittney Gelack | BAIR Analytics Inc. | brittney.gelack@bairanalytics.com | (303) 346-6000

Fourth Suspect Charged in Billerica Murder

Billerica Police | MA Posted on by

Four defendants indicted by Middlesex Grand Jury

LOWELL – A fourth person has been charged in connection with the July 7 murder of Quintin Koehler, 22, of Billerica, and all four men were indicted today by a Middlesex Grand Jury, Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone informed the public today.

A Middlesex Grand Jury indicted the following defendants:

  • Adam Bradley, 27, of Lynn, was indicted on charges of murder, attempted armed robbery, home invasion, and possession of a firearm.
  • Peter Bin, 25, of Peabody, was indicted on charges of murder, attempted armed robbery, home invasion, and possession of a firearm.
  • Jason Estabrook, 28, of Lynn, was indicted on charges of murder, home invasion, and attempted armed robbery.
  • Gabriel Arias, 20, of Lynn, was indicted on charges of misleading a criminal proceeding.

An arraignment date in Middlesex Superior Court has not yet been set.

The four defendants are accused of shooting Koehler during an attempt to rob the victim while breaking into his home inBillerica.

Bin was arrested October 26 and has been held without bail following his arraignment in Lowell District Court.   Estabrook and Arias were arraigned September 27 in Lowell District Court.  Lowell District Court Judge Thomas Brennan ordered Estabrook held without bail.  Judge Brennan ordered Arias held on $20,000 cash bail.  Arias was also held on a probation warrant from a case out of Lynn.  Bradley has been held on unrelated charges out of Essex County.

According to authorities, on July 7 at approximately 3:55 a.m. Billerica Police responded to 795 Boston Road for a report of a shooting.  Officers discovered the victim, Quintin Koehler, evidencing a gunshot wound.  The victim was transported to Lahey Clinic where he was pronounced dead.  The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined the cause of death to be a gunshot wound to the head and the manner of death to be homicide.

It is alleged that Bradley and co-defendants were looking for a person to rob and together agreed to rob the victim.  Bradley, Estabrook, Bin, Arias and others traveled from Lynn to Billerica in the early morning of July 7 with the intent to rob the victim.  Authorities believe the home was targeted because the defendants believed marijuana and money would be present at the home.  The victim and a witness heard the defendant and others in the home and discovered Bradley, Estabrook, and Bin in the kitchen where an assault ensued.  It is alleged that gunshots were fired, hitting the victim in the head.  The suspects then fled the scene.

Authorities allege that Arias misled investigators during the investigation by providing false information to the police.

These charges are allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The case is being investigated by Billerica Police and State Police assigned to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office.

The Assistant District Attorney assigned to the case is Cara Krysil.  The Victim Witness Advocate is Kathleen Keefe.

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BPD Applies For Grant With Four Other Agencies

Billerica Police | MA Posted on by

The Billerica Police Department has applied for this year’s Community Innovation Challenge (CIC) grants through the Executive Office for Administration and Finance with the Burlington, Bedford, Tewksbury and Wilmington Police Departments. Burlington Police Department is the lead applicant entity. The application was prepared by Captain Greg Skehan of the Burlington Police Department and Lieutenant Greg Katz of the Billerica Police Department.

CIC grants will provide financial support for one-time or transition costs related to innovative regionalization and other efficiency initiatives in local governments. By improving the effectiveness of shared programs and services, the Commonwealth is able to spend taxpayer money more efficiently, maximizing the impact of every dollar spent.

The purpose of the grant proposal is to combine the resources of the five applicants to form a larger, regional web presence which would include a greater level of current news and communications from all five departments.

One of the key elements to this proposal is the inclusion of public crime mapping and alerting for all five jurisdictions. While public facing crime map applications and websites are not uncommon it is rare that five communities would offer a regional space for citizens to take in a larger landscape in regards to crime activity and trends. Residents that may occupy a home near the border of a participating town would now be provided real crime data from the neighboring jurisdiction. In the past, only the crime data of their jurisdiction would be available. Address searching, date range filters and 27 crime categories will make it easy for the public to view the crime information that matters to them. Meaningful analytics, including a time of day and day of week graph, helps the public interpret crime activity so they can take action and stay safe. Automated neighborhood watch emails keep the public up-to-date on recent crime activity near their home, school or other place of interest.

In addition to the crime data available to residents, the ability for anyone to submit an anonymous tip to the respective agency directly from the crime map is a convenient tool for both the public and each agency. This functionality is included with the public facing crime map to be implemented as part of this project.

Public facing crime mapping is immensely valuable to the public but this project takes mapping a step further and includes agency facing analytical data and tools. These tools will allow authorized personnel in each agency access to data across all five towns. Meaningful graphs help users visualize crime patterns and trends across jurisdictional lines. Crime hotspot maps and custom predictive analytics can be created with one click against any data on the map, including data spanning all five jurisdictions. Patrol officers will now be able to monitor their specific patrol areas and have valuable data available from the neighboring jurisdictions.

For more information on the mapping technology please visit BAIR Analytics and the RAIDS Online map.
Grant recipients will be announced by the end of February.

Transport Van Targeted by Arsonist

Billerica Police | MA Posted on by

Billerica – On Wednesday, November 28, 2012, Billerica Police responded to the attempted arson of a passenger transport van parked at 168 Ipswich Street in North Billerica. The vehicle had just been parked by its driver who lives in the area. The driver reported that shortly after exiting the van and entering his residence, he observed an orange glow coming from inside the vehicle. He quickly walked over to the vehicle and observed it to be on fire. Emergency personnel responded and managed to extinguish the blaze. A preliminary investigation at the scene determined that the vehicle had been intentionally burned using an accelerant.

The case is being investigated by the Billerica Police and Fire Department along with the State Fire Marshall’s Office. At this time authorities are working on the belief that this was not a random event. A “small black car” was observed in the area prior to the incident. Police are requesting the publics’ assistance in locating the operator/occupants of this vehicle for questioning only.

Any information that the public could provide should be directed to Lt. Roy Frost at 978-667-1212 or the State Fire Marshall’s Office at 978-567-3381.

Any additional questions should be directed to Lieutenant Roy Frost, 978-667-1212 x120