BILLERICA — Police Chief Roy Frost is pleased to report that the Billerica Police Department has promoted six individuals to supervisory positions within the department in the wake of two retirements.
Lt. Commander John Harring will now serve as Operations Commander, Lt. Commander Frank Mirasolo will oversee Administration. Lt. Tara Conners — the department’s first female lieutenant — will serve in patrol, as will Lt. Mark Gualtieri, Sgt. Dwayne Eidens, and Sgt. Timothy McKenna.
All six promotions were made to fill vacancies left by the retirements of Lt. Commander Greg Katz and Lt. Commander Ronald Balboni.
“Lt. Commander Katz and Lt. Commander Balboni will be deeply missed within this department, where they both had a major impact throughout their careers,” said Chief Frost. “I am pleased to see this new group of supervisors being promoted. They have big shoes to fill, but I am confident they will do so with professionalism, compassion, and skill.”
Lt. Commander John Harring has been working with Billerica Police since 2001, when he joined the department from the Broward County, Florida, Sheriff’s Department. His father is a retired Billerica Police Detective Lieutenant. Harring worked as a K-9 handler for Billerica starting in 2009, at which time he was assigned to NEMLEC K-9 Unit. Harring eventually became commander of the NEMLEC K-9 Unit, serving in that position until 2021. Harring was promoted to Sergeant in 2014 and Lieutenant in 2020. Prior to his promotion, Lt. Commander Harring was in charge of training for the BPD. Lt. Commander Harring holds a Master’s degree in Criminal Justice from Western New England College.
Lt. Commander Frank Mirasolo began working in Billerica in January 1995, coming to the department from the Keene, N.H., Police Department. He was promoted to Sergeant in 2004 and Lieutenant in 2021. He has been a detective for 26 years. Prior to this promotion, Lt. Commander Mirasolo was in charge of the early night patrol shift. Lt. Commander Mirasolo holds a Master’s degree in Criminal Justice from Anna Maria College.
Lt. Tara Conners began working for the department in 2003 after working as a teacher in the Billerica schools. She was promoted to Sergeant in 2016. Lt. Conners has served in many capacities, including School Resource Officer and Domestic Violence Officer, Court Prosecutor and Grant Administrator. She also holds a law degree from the New England School of Law and is a member of the Massachusetts Bar Association. Prior to her promotion, Lt. Conners was serving as a supervisor of the School Resource Officer program, and as Court Prosecutor, and Grant Administrator. Lt. Conners is the first female to attain the rank of Lieutenant in department history. Her father is a retired Deputy Chief from the Billerica Police Department.
Lt. Mark Gualtieri began working for the department in 1995, transferring from the Billerica Fire Department. Lt. Gualtieri was promoted to Sergeant in 2002. In 2004 he was placed on the NEMLEC Tactical Police Force (TPF) and later in 2010 trained and certified as a NEMLEC SWAT officer, where he served until 2023. In that capacity, Lt. Gualtieri responded to high-risk situations throughout the region. Prior to his promotion, Lt. Gualtieri was serving as a Patrol Sergeant on the early night shift. Lt. Gualtieri is a U.S. Air Force veteran. He holds a Master’s degree in Criminal Justice from Western New England College.
Sgt. Dwayne Eidens began working in Billerica in 2005. Sgt. Eidens worked in patrol until 2018, when he was assigned full-time to the Traffic Division. In addition to investigating motor vehicle crashes and conducting targeted road safety programs, Sgt. Eidens was certified as a motorcycle officer and was assigned to the NEMLEC Motor Unit. Sgt. Eidens is a U.S. Army Reserve Veteran, and recipient of the Bronze Star for his service overseas. He holds a Master’s degree in Criminal Justice from University of Massachusetts Lowell.
Sgt. Timothy McKenna began working as a police officer in Billerica in 2003, transferring from the Bedford Police Department, where he was a dispatcher. Sgt. McKenna has served as a CJIS administrator since 2009, where he managed all state and federal compliance requirements on behalf of the Town. In 2017, he was assigned as a Detective, working in the criminal bureau. In 2023, he became a provisional Sergeant during a period where the department needed to find quality supervisors as Civil Service worked to develop new testing standards. Sgt. McKenna served in this provisional capacity for one year. After a short stint back in the criminal bureau, Sgt. McKenna will return to a supervisory role permanently. His late father was a Captain in the Arlington Police Department.