Billerica Police Department Welcomes Two New Officers From Police Academy

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From left, Officer Sukbir Pabla and Officer Derek Coffey stand at the Billerica Public Safety Memorial.

BILLERICA — Chief Roy Frost is pleased to report that the Billerica Police Department welcomed two new officers upon their graduation from the Northern Essex Community College Haverhill Police Academy.

Officer Sukbir Pabla and Officer Derek Coffey graduated from the NECC Haverhill Police Academy on Friday, Aug. 12, and will join Billerica Police for a 12-week field training program under the supervision of a more-experienced officer.

The NECC Haverhill Police Academy is a 24-week intensive program that covers constitutional law, domestic violence, elder abuse communication, problem-solving skills, response to residents on the autism spectrum and Active Bystander for Law Enforcement (ABLE) training, which prepares officers to intervene when they see other officers engaging in misconduct.

The NECC Academy consists of more than 900 hours of a combination of practical and classroom training, certifications and service to the community. Classes include first aid, law, applied patrol procedures, firearms, report writing, active shooter training, specialized driving and self-defense.

Officer Pabla, 29, moved to America with his family from Punjab, India and has lived in Billerica for five years. He speaks English, Punjabi, and Hindi. Officer Pabla served as a police dispatcher at Regis College.

“I am very thankful for the opportunity the Police Department has given to me to serve the community of Billerica,” Officer Pabla said.

Officer Coffey, 29, is a Billerica native and 2012 graduate of Billerica Memorial High School. He worked with Billerica Police as a dispatcher.

Officer Coffey has an Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Middlesex Community College, and is working toward a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Massachusetts Lowell.

“I always felt like the police officers in town were extremely fair, and maintained a great relationship with the public,” said Officer Coffey. “I always wanted to be a police officer because of that.”

“I want to introduce these two new officers to the community,” said Chief Frost. “Both of these men possess the skills, demeanor and drive to ethically serve this community and continue to build on the trust and traditions that this department works to achieve.”

From left, Lt. Commander Ron Balboni, Chief Roy Frost, Officer Sukbir Pabla, Officer Derek Coffey, Lt. John Harring, and Town Manager John Curran stand together at the Billerica Public Safety Memorial.

BPD Promotion and Retirement Announcement

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The Billerica Police Department would like to announce the promotion of Glen Magnan to the position of Police Lieutenant. Lieutenant Magnan is a 21-year veteran of the Billerica Police Department, having spent the past 15 months overseeing the Traffic Bureau. He will be assigned to oversee the patrol force on the midnight shift. Lt Magnan will be replacing Lieutenant Edward Omahony who is retiring this week after serving 29 years to the Town of Billerica. Congratulations to Lieutenant Magnan on your new role and thank you to Lieutenant Omahony for your service to the community. Enjoy your retirement!

Lieutenant Glen Magnan

Citizen’s Police Academy

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The Billerica Police Department will host its first Citizen’s Academy. This program is an educational program for Billerica Residents to better understand how the Billerica Police Department operates and to build relationships with members of the Police Department.

Participant Requirements:
Persons who would like to participate are required to complete an application.

Participants must be:

  • A minimum age of 21 years
  • A resident of Billerica
  • Be able to attend 5 Wednesday evening classes from 6:00 P.M. to 8:30 P.M. Tentative Dates are September 20th through October 18th ,2023.

Curriculum:
The curriculum will encompass the multi-faceted operations of the Billerica Police Department. Examples are Traffic Enforcement, Communications, Criminal Investigations, Crime Prevention, Emergency Medical Services, Special Operations (K9, SWAT), School Resources Program and Training Division.

Interested?
Interested parties can obtain an application at the Police Department or request an application by emailing CitizenAcademy@billericapolice.org. The deadline for applications is August 30th, 2023.

Billerica Police Department Offers Personal Alert Program for Community Members with Difficulty Communicating

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 BILLERICA — Chief Roy Frost is pleased to report that the Billerica Police department is offering the community a chance to provide important information on individuals with disabilities to aid first responders in the event of an emergency.

The Billerica Department is rolling out the free and voluntary Personal Alert Program, which is designed to aid first responders with quick access to critical information to assist in dealing with individuals with disabilities, in particular those who may have difficulty communicating with first responders.

Individuals who may benefit from the program include individuals on the Autism spectrum, those with Dementia, Alzheimer’s, or Downs Syndrome, elders or any other individual with disabilities.

The Personal Alert Program registry will aid first responders by providing information, including emergency contact’s, detailed physical descriptions, the individual’s communication abilities, routines and behaviors, photographs, and other helpful information that may assist first responders while they are interacting with the individuals.

Information can be provided by parents, guardians, or caretakers and will be used by the Billerica Police, Fire, and Emergency Medical Services to assist in caring for and/or locating individuals with disabilities.

To learn more or to register for the program, click here. Billerica Police will also have information on the program available next month at Billerica Police Department’s Public Safety Night.

Those who enroll will receive a free Billerica Police Department patch, seat belt cover, window decal, and an BPD Personal Alert Program identification card.

“I want to thank Telecommunicator Supervisor Maureen Lamaree for her work to get this program launched. She has been instrumental to our efforts on this,” said Chief Roy Frost. “We’re hoping a large number of community members will enroll in this program to help improve our ability to be of assistance in the event of the emergency.”

Billerica Public Safety Night – August 8th – 5pm to 8pm

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BPD and BFD will be hosting a Public Safety Day on August 8th from 5pm to 8pm. This will be in the “rear” parking lot of the Police Station. There will be Public Safety Equipment, Police Canine demonstrations, Food Truck(s), informational booths and entertainment for children.

Billerica Police Department Adds a New K-9 Team: Officer Ryan Koles and K-9 Cassius White

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Officer Ryan Koles and K-9 Cassius White.

BILLERICA — Chief Roy Frost is pleased to report that the Billerica Police department has added a second K-9 unit to the department.

Officer Ryan Koles was selected to be the Billerica Police Department’s newest K-9 handler after participating in a selection process that included a physical fitness test, a report review, and an interview panel that included members of the Connecticut state Police K-9 Training Unit and the Massachusetts Environmental Police K-9 Unit.

Koles will now be partnered with a black Labrador retriever that was donated to Billerica Police as a puppy by Foxbend Labs, of Hillsborough, New Hampshire.

The K-9 has been named Cassius White, in honor and recognition of the first known Billerica Police officer to give his life in the line of duty.

White was an 18-year veteran of Billerica Police who was killed in 1936 when he was struck by a drunken driver while assisting Massachusetts State Troopers with a motor vehicle stop on Boston Road near Billerica Center.

The K-9, Cassius White, was initially raised and trained by Sgt. Rocco Magliozzi, who is an experienced Billerica Police K-9 officer. Upon Koles being selected to be Cassius White’s new handler, both Koles and Cassius White attended the Connecticut State Police K-9 Training Academy, graduating on June 23.

Koles and Cassius White have received training in tracking, and intend to pursue additional training in search and rescue and human remains detection.

Officer Koles and Cassius White now join the department’s existing K-9 team, Sgt. Magliozzi and K-9 Skye, another Labrador.

“Our K-9 program is highly regarded in the region for its years of successful tracks, apprehensions and community engagement,” said Chief Frost. “I am confident that Officer Koles and his partner Cassius White will continue to build on that tradition as they begin working in the community along with Sgt. Magliozzi and K-9 Skye.”