For Immediate Release

Friday, Sept. 23, 2016

Contact: Tricia Tiedt
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Georgetown Police Welcome New Chaplain to Department Program

GEORGETOWN – Police Chief Donald C. Cudmore is pleased to announce that Father Rich Burton has joined the police department as part of Georgetown’s Department Chaplain Program.

The program was created in 2014 by Chief Cudmore to provide additional resources to police officers and department employees during difficult times. As part of the department’s employee assistance program, the chaplains seek to provide comfort and spiritual guidance to officers who respond to critical incidents.

Father Burton is the pastor of St. Mary’s Parish, serving Georgetown residents and neighboring Rowley, Boxford and Byfield communities. A Haverhill native, Father Burton attended the College of the Holy Cross before beginning a lengthy Naval career, where he served two tours in the Persian Gulf. He earned his master’s in Divinity and was ordained a Roman Catholic priest for the Archdiocese of Boston in 2003.

“Father Burton is already a leader in the greater Georgetown community, and his military experience will allow him to connect with our officers on a deeper level,” Chief Cudmore said. “We are pleased to welcome him to our Department Chaplain Program.”

Father Burton joins Chaplain Lorraine Edwards as the second pastor in the Department Chaplain Program. Chaplain Edwards has served as the department’s sole pastor since the program’s launch in 2014.

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