Paul O’Brien, left, has recently been promoted to the position of Chief of the East Bridgewater Police Department, and Michael Jenkins has been promoted to Deputy Chief. (Photo Courtesy East Bridgewater Police Department) Chief Paul O’Brien, seventh from left, and Deputy Chief Michael Jenkins, sixth from left, are joined by fellow members of the East Bridgewater Police Department following Monday’s swearing in ceremony. (Photo Courtesy East Bridgewater Police Department) Chief Paul O’Brien and Deputy Chief Michael Jenkins are joined by members of the East Bridgewater Board of Selectmen following Monday’s swearing in ceremony. From left, selectboard member Peter Spagone, Jr., selectboard chair Carole Julius, Deputy Chief Jenkins, Chief O’Brien and selectboard vice-chair David Sheedy. (Photo Courtesy East Bridgewater Police Department)
EAST BRIDGEWATER — The East Bridgewater Police Department is pleased to announce the recent promotions of Chief Paul O’Brien and Deputy Chief Michael Jenkins.
The two were sworn into their new roles during a ceremony in front of the 9-11 memorial outside East Bridgewater Town Hall on Monday, Aug. 31. Following the ceremony, Deputy Chief Jenkins signed his contract during the East Bridgewater Board of Selectmen meeting. O’Brien had signed his official contract earlier this spring.
Chief Paul O’Brien
Chief O’Brien was appointed to the position March 14.
He was hired by the department in 1997, having worked in the maritime industry prior to becoming a police officer. He was promoted to detective in 2004 and promoted to sergeant in 2010. He served as deputy chief since 2018 before taking on his current role.
Chief O’Brien graduated from Massachusetts Maritime Academy with a bachelor’s degree in engineering, and earned a master’s degree in criminal justice from Western New England College.
He graduated from the 25th MPOC Plymouth Police Academy, Drug Enforcement Administration School through the Massachusetts State Police Academy, and Arson School through the Massachusetts Firefighter Academy. He is certified in accident reconstruction.
Chief O’Brien is an East Bridgewater resident and grew up in Brockton.
“I am excited to be serving my hometown’s police department in this new role, and to work alongside the many highly skilled and passionate men and women who make up the EBPD,” Chief O’Brien said. “And I know Deputy Chief Jenkins will excel in his new role as well, just as he has for the past 20-plus years.”
Deputy Chief Michael Jenkins
Deputy Chief Jenkins was appointed to the position on Aug. 16.
He began his law enforcement career when he was appointed as a seasonal special officer for the Dennis Police Department in 1989.
In 1990, he was appointed as a special police officer for the Abington Police Department, serving until 1997. From 1990 through 1997, Deputy Chief Jenkins also worked in the IT Industry full time while working part-time as a Special Police Officer.
In 1997, he became a police officer with the East Bridgewater Police Department. In addition to his patrol duties, he was the department IT officer and specialized in cybercrime investigations. In this role, he helped create and launch the department’s first website and wrote grants to procure new technology within the department including new mobile laptops in the department’s cruisers.
In 2007, he was promoted to detective and was assigned to the WEB Multi-Jurisdictional Major Crimes and Drug Task Force as a narcotics and cybercrime investigator until 2013.
In 2013, he was promoted to the rank of sergeant. While sergeant, in addition to his patrol supervisor duties, he held several additional responsibilities, including but not limited to, the oversight of the Investigative Division, court prosecutors, evidence and property control, radio and communications, as well as the Department IT Director.
From 2016 until 2019, in addition to his roles and responsibilities as a Sergeant in East Bridgewater, he was the Unit Commander of the Southeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council (SEMLEC) Mobile Command Unit, providing support to the SEMLEC SWAT, Search & Rescue and Crisis Negotiation teams.
Deputy Chief Jenkins holds a degree in criminal justice/law enforcement administration from Western New England College, and graduated from the 30th MPOC Plymouth Police Academy. He is FBI-LEEDA-Command Leadership Institute certified, DEA/Narcotic Investigations certified and was a past member of the Massachusetts ICAC (Internet Crimes Against Children) Task Force, among his numerous other certifications.
“I have been proud to protect and serve the residents of this community for many years, and look forward to continuing to do so in my new role,” Deputy Chief Jenkins said. “It is an honor and privilege to be a member of the East Bridgewater Police Department, and I thank Chief O’Brien and the rest of the members of this department for all they do each and every day.”
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