Lowell Police are releasing four recruitment videos to attract more diverse officers to the force. (Photo Courtesy Lowell Police Department) 
A screen capture from one of four recruitment videos Lowell Police are releasing in an effort to recruit more diverse candidates to the force. (Courtesy Lowell Police Department)
LOWELL — Acting Superintendent Barry Golner reports that the Lowell Police Department is launching a campaign to recruit diverse candidates to apply for positions within the department, as Lowell Police seek to better represent the community they serve.
The “Why Will You Choose Lowell” campaign seeks to attract a diverse field of candidates to be police officers in Lowell. The campaign highlights the variety of assignments and jobs Lowell Police officers can seek and goals that Lowell Police officers can pursue, from helping members of the community where they grew up or striving to make a difference in the lives of city youth.
“There are a lot of opportunities here for you to do something besides patrol,” said School Resource Officer Jose Santiago. “You can get involved in whatever you want to get involved in when you come to the Police Department. You want to make a difference? Yes, you can make a difference here.”
Lowell Police are releasing four videos featuring officers and the work they have chosen.
The videos highlight Officers Santiago and Emaly Bouasri, and Sergeants Linda Coughlin and Mike Bergeron discussing why they joined the force and the ways they have served since, whether it be in patrol, on the Gang Unit, with Lowell Police Youth Services or as a School Resource Officer.
“If you’re looking for something that continuously changes and you’re not stagnant in the same thing, this is the career to take and this is the place to come to work,” said Sgt. Bergeron.
To view the videos, click here, here, here or here.
The 2020 Census found that of the estimated 113,999 residents in the City of Lowell, 58% are white, 9% are black, 22% are Asian and 18% are Hispanic or Latino.
Meanwhile, of the 242 police officers in Lowell, 72% are white, 3% are black, 7% are Asian and 18% are Hispanic or Latino.
“Those of us at the Lowell Police Department believe that Lowell’s diversity is one of our greatest strengths, and we aspire to have a Police department that is more representative of the city’s population,” said Acting Superintendent Golner. “Recruiting new officers has been difficult in recent years, but we remain committed to recruiting new officers who reflect the city they will serve.”
Lowell Police believe that having a Department that represents the community will make both the organization and the city stronger.
Among the units and assignments available to Lowell Police officers are patrol, the Gang Unit, the Special Investigations Section, the Criminal Investigations Division, the Family Services Unit, Lowell Police Youth Services, the Warrant Unit, School Resource Officer Unit, K-9 Units, the Traffic Bureau, the Motorcycle Unit, Evidence Response, the Neighborhood Action Unit, the Body Worn Camera Unit, the Fire Investigation Unit and a Boat Unit that patrols the Merrimack River during the summer. Lowell Police also send officers to serve as representatives on regional SWAT, Rapid Response, and school safety units, and on federal task forces. Lowell Police also work with the Lowell Health Department and other city stakeholders on a CO-OP Team that reaches out to individuals who have suffered an overdose or who suffer from Substance Use Disorder.
“The Lowell Police Department provides a wide variety of opportunities to anyone who is looking to make a difference in the community,” said Acting Superintendent Golner. “Police don’t just take calls and make arrests any more. We work in the community to support youth and those in need, we work with businesses and residents on safety issues and crime prevention, and we work in partnership with Lowell Public Schools to help set good role models for youth. If you’re interested in making a difference in Lowell, the Lowell Police Department has multiple avenues for you to travel.”
The next Massachusetts Civil Service test available to those who wish to become municipal police officers is scheduled to begin on March 18, but the application deadline is Jan. 17.
For more information on the exam and information on how to sign up, click here.