End Of The Line For Ford’s Crown Victoria

Billerica Police | MA Posted on by

2011 CVPI

Ford Motor Company stopped accepting orders for the Crown Victoria Police Interceptor in April of 2011.  The “Crown Vic” has dominated police fleets in North America as long as many of us can remember.

The Crown Victoria was popular with Billerica Police Officers for the same reasons many other departments liked them.  The car had many advantages when used in a police application including a roomy interior for all the police equipment, rear wheel drive and a V8 engine for durability and body on frame construction for economical repairs.

Over the years the Crown Vic has fallen behind in efficiency and safety.  The platform can no longer meet new efficiency and technology requirements according to Ford Motor Company.

The Billerica Police Department is receiving its last Ford Crown Victorias, Car 5 (above), being one of the last.  The department has not yet determined which vehicle will replace the outgoing Fords.  Currently, Ford is offering newly developed Interceptors based on the new Taurus and Explorer, Chevrolet has a new Caprice and Dodge offers a newly redesigned Charger.

Three Suspects Arrested in Craigslist Armed Robbery

Billerica Police | MA Posted on by

Billerica – On Wednesday, October 19, 2011 Billerica Police arrested Mark Mearn, 26 years old, of Lowell, MA and Joseph Beals, 24 years old, of Billerica, MA for Armed Robbery. A third individual identified as Brendan Mearn, 24 years old, currently homeless, who is also being charged in connection with the incident, is still at large. The arrests follow an incident which occurred back on September 22, 2011 in Billerica. That incident involved a male victim from Beverly, MA who advertised on Craigslist that he bought and sold gold jewelry. This person was contacted by one of the parties claiming to have gold jewelry for sale. The victim ultimately traveled to Billerica to meet with the party at an agreed upon location with the intention of purchasing a quantity of jewelry. When the victim arrived he was physically assaulted, threatened with a firearm and robbed of a quantity of money and property. The victim managed to flee the scene after suffering minor injuries and was treated at an area hospital. A canine dispatched to the scene of the incident tracked from the scene to an address associated with Joseph Beals; however, no suspects were located. Through various investigative leads, including the analysis of phone records, Detectives were able to file charges against the above defendants. Mark Mearn and Joseph Beals will be arraigned in Lowell District Court on October 20, 2011.

Update 1:00PM – Brendan Mearn has been arrested and sent to court for arraignment.

Any further inquiries should be directed to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Public Information Officer, Jessica Venezia Pastore at 781-897-8325.

Technology Upgrades For Police and EMS

Billerica Police | MA Posted on by

EMS ComputerPolice and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) have completed technology upgrades using local funding as well as significant support from the 2011 State 911 Support and Incentive Grant.

This fiscal year we focused mainly on EMS computing and wireless networking for the entire patrol and EMS fleet.  All of our mobile units maintain 24/7 connectivity to critical local and state applications as well as internet access.  Officers and Paramedics have all the information they need to perform their duties in their ambulance or patrol car. EMS has been outfitted with the latest rugged computers produced by General Dynamics.  These computers are designed to operate in less than ideal conditions and meet military specifications for durability.

Additional upgrades were also completed to ensure that our communications center has enough battery power to maintain systems in the event of a power failure.  A refresh of some of the computers in communications is also in progress.

In the next few months the Police Department will receive an upgraded “Live Scan” finger print system.  This system is funded by the Executive Office of Public Safety.  The new system will increase the department’s ability to search fingerprints against local, state and federal databases using the most current technology available.

Town/department funded projects also completed this year include some key server upgrades and in-house completion of this website using open source software.  Upgrades to a new security software package as part of a town-wide project was accomplished in the Spring.

The Police Department would also like to thank the Billerica Schools Technology Department for its assistance during our recent server upgrades.  This work saved the town thousands in vendor costs and local training.

Man Arrested After Trying To Steal Truck

Billerica Police | MA Posted on by

BPD officers were called to a Wheeler Rd residence early Saturday morning at approximately 2:30 AM for a report that suspects unknown had attempted to steal a pickup truck.  The resident woke up after hearing his truck start.  When the truck owner ran outside he found two suspects in his vehicle attempting to flee by backing out of the driveway.  While attempting to flee, the suspects backed into a neighbors yard and caused the vehicle to stall.  Both males in the truck jumped out of the vehicle and took off running.

Patrolmen Mike Henckler and Tim McKenna responded to the scene.  Patrolman John Harring and K9 Bloodhound Diesel were called out as well, arriving shortly after Henckler and McKenna.  Patrolman Harring and K9 Diesel went right to work, tracking one suspect into the handcuffs of Patrolman McKenna.

Micah Whittier was arrested at the scene and charged with larceny of a motor vehicle.  Further investigation of the incident revealed that the owner of the vehicle left the keys in the vehicle.  BPD highly discourages this practice for the reasons outlined above.  Please lock up all your valuables, vehicles and homes.  At this time we are still looking for information on the second suspect.  Anyone with any information should call us at 978-667-1212.

Mother And Son Arrested Attempting To Steal Storm Drain

Billerica Police | MA Posted on by

On 10/15/2011 Patrolman Daniel O’Leary observed a tan Toyota Camry parked in the middle of Esquire Rd. Billerica.  This area is an industrial park complex located off of Middlesex Turnpike.  Patrolman O’Leary further observed a male party, later identified as Richard Canada attempting to roll a storm drain cover into the front seat of the motor vehicle.  Immediately upon seeing the officer, Canada dropped the cover and jumped into the vehicle which began to drive away.  A vehicle stop was conducted and Canada, along with the driver, Nancy Murnane (Canada’s mother), were arrested and charged with the attempted larceny.   Another storm drain cover was stolen last week in the same industrial complex.

Richard S. Canada, 18, 381 Hildreth St. Apt 104,Lowell, MA
Nancy L. Murnane, 43, 746 Lakeview Av. Apt 10, Lowell, MA

Cops For Kids With Cancer Makes Donation To Family Of Sick Boy

Billerica Police | MA Posted on by

Cops For Kids With Cancer recently donated $5000 to the family of a boy who is battling health problems related to Post-transplant Lymphoproliferative Disorder (PTLD).

Mackenzie Ryan Wallace (12) received a heart transplant in 2002 after a long battle from birth with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS) a rare congenital disorder of the heart. Mackenzie resides in Franklin, NH with his mother, sister, step-father and younger brother. The family is overwhelmed by medical costs not only from the original HLHS but now PTLD.  Mackenzie is a relative to Billerica Police Patrolman Mark Tsoukalas.

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