Michael R. Kent
Chief of Police
45 Center Street
Burlington, MA 01803
www.bpd.org
For Immediate Release
Monday, April 9, 2018
Media Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net
Burlington Police Lt. Thomas P. Browne Promoted to Deputy Chief
BURLINGTON — Chief Michael Kent is pleased to announce that a veteran member of the Burlington Police Department has been named deputy chief.
Thomas P. Browne, who joined the department as a patrol officer in March 2001, has served in a variety of roles over the past 17 years. As a patrol officer, he designed and implemented the Burlington Police Department’s vital field training officer program for new recruits.
He was promoted to sergeant in 2004 and lieutenant in 2013. As lieutenant, he oversaw the creation of a brand new hiring process as the department left the Civil Service program in 2014. He also served as commanding officer of the field training program that he created earlier in his career.
Deputy Browne also ushered in a new era for the department as its accreditation officer, helping the Burlington Police Department achieve certified status from the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission for the first time in 2003. As lieutenant, he maintained his status as accreditation supervisor, helping BPD earn full accreditation in 2008 and four consecutive re-accreditation awards since then, keeping the department in line with state and national best practices for law enforcement.
“Deputy Browne is a natural leader and a true asset to the Burlington Police Department,” Chief Kent said. “I am very proud to have him serve as second in command of this active, thriving and modern law enforcement agency.”
Deputy Browne graduated from the University of Massachusetts Lowell in 1994 with a bachelor’s degree in public administration and a minor in psychology. He started his career with the Hudson Police Department in 1994, where he attained the rank of sergeant prior to departing to return to his native Burlington. He graduated from the 104th New Hampshire Police Academy in 1994.
Deputy Browne received a law degree cum laude from the Massachusetts School of Law in Andover and has been a member of the Massachusetts Bar since 2010.
He is a Burlington native and one of seven children of James and Margaret Browne. He is a 1990 Burlington High School graduate and has been married to his wife, Michelle, for over 14 years. Together they have three daughters in the Burlington schools, Katelyn, 13, Megan, 11, and Jillian, 9. He has three brothers and three sisters, and all three of Deputy Browne’s brothers serve on the Burlington Fire Department.
Deputy Browne takes over for Deputy Chief Thomas Duffy, who retires on April 30 after nearly 33 years of service to the department, including the past three years as deputy chief.
Deputy Browne was appointed during a ceremony this evening at the the Burlington Board of Selectmen’s meeting.
“I believe very strongly that police are most effective when they work in partnership with the communities they serve. As deputy chief, I will work to strengthen our existing partnerships, form new ones, and educate the members of this agency on the value of community policing and police legitimacy,” Deputy Browne said. “I wish to express my gratitude to Chief Kent and every member of our department for their support as I begin in this new role.”
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