firearm

Manchester-by-the-Sea Police Officer Resigns after Internal Investigation

⋅ Police News ⋅ , , , , ⋅ 0 Comments

Manchester-by-the-Sea Police Department
Edward G. Conley, Chief of Police
10 Central Street
Manchester by the Sea, MA 01944

For Immediate Release

Friday, Jan. 11, 2019

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Manchester-by-the-Sea Police Officer Resigns after Internal Investigation into Sale of Private Firearm

MANCHESTER BY-THE-SEA —  Chief Edward Conley reports that a Manchester Police Officer has resigned after the conclusion of an internal affairs investigation into the sale of a private firearm that was taken from the police department’s storage.

Howard Lewis was appointed a reserve officer in 2008 and a full-time officer in June 2010. He had been assigned to the 12-8 a.m. shift and served as the department’s primary firearms instructor when he was placed on Administrative leave on Dec. 15.

On Nov. 19, 2018, a Manchester-by-the Sea resident came to the police station to retrieve a firearm, a vintage German Luger, that had belonged to his father, which had been take for safekeeping by the police department at the request of the owner’s wife in 2014. However, no such firearm could be located at the police station.

A department-wide email was sent inquiring about the missing Luger, and an internal investigation was launched.

The investigation determined that Lewis sold the firearm through a licensed firearms dealer in Gloucester and received a check for $650. Faced with the evidence of the investigation, Lewis resigned from the department.

The Manchester-by-the-Sea Police Department has reimbursed the family for the loss of their firearm and formally apologized to them.

“In this instance, an officer circumvented the department’s evidence system by failing to report that he was in possession of private property and then selling that property for his own gain,” Chief Conley said. “This action violated the public trust and violated the very mission of the Manchester Police Department, and I am satisfied with the outcome. I again extend my sincere apology to the family who was affected by these actions.”

The Essex District Attorney’s Office was consulted on this investigation.

Chief Conley, who was appointed in October 2016, also reports that there are no indications that any other firearms, evidence or other property is missing from the department.

###

Stoneham Police to Charge Malden Man for Discharging Firearm Near School on Wednesday

⋅ Police News ⋅ , , , ⋅ 0 Comments

Stoneham Police Department
Chief James McIntyre
47 Central Street
Stoneham, MA 02180-2044

For Immediate Release

Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003

Stoneham Police to Charge Malden Man for Discharging Firearm Near School 

STONEHAM — Chief James McIntyre reports that the Stoneham Police Department will charge a man after gunshots rang out near two schools in town.

A 52-YEAR-OLD MALE FROM MALDEN is charged with:

  • Discharging a Firearm within 500 Feet of a Dwelling
  • Improper Storage of a Firearm
  • Violation of a Town Bylaw Relating to the Discharge of a Firearm
  • Disorderly Conduct
  • Disturbing the Peace

On Wednesday, Nov. 7, the Stoneham Police Department received multiple 911 calls reporting gunshots in the area of Karen Drive. Police units were immediately dispatched to the area.

As police units were responding to the scene, two nearby schools, Stoneham High School and Colonial Park School, were contacted and requested to shelter in place out of an abundance of caution. During a shelter in place, access to the buildings are restricted, but normal educational activities continue.

As police arrived in the area, they encountered several people in the yard of 4 Karen Drive. Officers spoke with the parties who provided conflicting stories as to what they were doing and denied shooting any firearms. The parties further stated that the sounds of the gunshots were likely from a pneumatic nail gun being used by nearby roofers. While on scene, officers located multiple freshly spent shell casings in the backyard at the residence.

Melrose Police and Massachusetts State Police K-9 units, along with the State Police Air Wing, responded for mutual aid to search the nearby woods as part of the investigation.

The investigation determined that the Malden man had allegedly been shooting at a target on a tree in the yard of the Karen Drive property. A 9 mm handgun was recovered.

The suspect had a valid license to carry firearms, but it is illegal to discharge a firearm near a dwelling.

The shelter in place advisories were quickly lifted at both schools, and students were dismissed as regularly scheduled.

“The individual involved in this incident clearly exercised poor judgement in unlawfully discharging a firearm in a residential neighborhood, in close proximity to multiple schools and homes,” Chief McIntyre said. “We are thankful that neighborhood residents and nearby school personnel reacted as quickly as they did to alert us to a potentially dangerous situation. I would like to thank our law enforcement partners – the Massachusetts State Police, Melrose Police and Woburn Police Departments for their assistance in bringing this incident to a successful resolution.”

These are allegations. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty.

###

Locating a Dangerous Firearm at Night is Part of the Job for Littleton K-9 Vojak

⋅ Police News ⋅ , , , , ⋅ 0 Comments

Littleton Police

Littleton Police Department
Matthew J. Pinard, Chief of Police
500 Great Road,
Littleton, MA 01460

For Immediate Release

Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018

Media Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Locating a Dangerous Firearm at Night?

All Part of the Job for Littleton K-9 Vojak

LITTLETON — When Boxborough Police and surrounding departments responded to a call for shots fired earlier this month, the advanced training and skills of Littleton’s four-legged cop were put to the test — to amazing effect.

Shortly after 11 p.m on Wednesday, Oct 4, residents on Davidson Road in Boxborough reported hearing multiple shots fired. Officers arrived and found that two people had been involved in an altercation, but no firearm was immediately visible.

Officers searched a wooded area near the home, but nothing was found. Thanks to a longstanding mutual aid agreement among communities in Middlesex County, the call was made to Littleton Police to send its K-9 unit. Vojak and his partner, Officer Brian Casey, arrived on scene quickly. Within 90 seconds, Vojak had found the loaded silver .32 caliber revolver allegedly used in the evening’s incident.

For Vojak, it was just another day on the job.

“Vojak is a terrific partner. He can go places and find things that humans simply can’t get to, and he makes our jobs easier every day,” said Officer Casey, who has been with the 4-year-old German Shepherd since Vojak began training as a puppy.

Vojak is certified by the Boston Police K-9 Academy and the United States Police Canine Association. Two years ago, he came in first place in evidence detection at the 2016 Cabela’s Police K-9 Competition.

Earning your stripes as a working K-9 unit is a time-consuming and difficult task, and not every dog is up to the task. Vojak and officer Casey spent 14 weeks at the Boston Police K-9 Academy to become certified in patrol. Evidence location is a specialized skill that takes even more effort to master.

“Evidence recovery is taught in a few different phases with continual repetition where the dog learns to associate reward upon locating items with human odor,” Officer Casey explained. “We train every month to keep Vojak’s skills fresh. It’s extremely helpful, as a well-trained K-9 can find something in seconds that human officers may spend hours trying to find with their eyes.”

In addition to firearms, Vojak can find knives, cell phones, and any evidence with a human scent that he can trace with his amazing sense of smell. He is also trained to find people. Vojak was able to find a missing person in another community just in the past week.

Vojak and Officer Casey are trained by Boston Police K-9 Officer Troy Caisey, Donny Evans of the Essex Country Sheriff’s Department, Ken Mckenzie of Marlboro Police and Tim Frates of the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department.

Chief Matthew J. Pinard praised the work and tireless dedication of Vojak and Officer Casey.

“A well-regimented K-9 performs a variety of tasks from community policing, to finding missing persons, to locating dangerous weapons, and we are very fortunate in Littleton to have an experienced and qualified team in Vojak and Officer Casey,” Chief Pinard said. “This recent case is yet another example of the value of mutual aid among municipal law enforcement partners in Massachusetts. Each department has specialized resources it can bring to bear on a crime scene of ongoing incident, making our communities safer in the process.”

###

Burlington Police Arrest Two, Seize Illegal Assault Rifle

⋅ Client News, Police News ⋅ , , , ⋅ 0 Comments

Burlington-MA-Police-Logo

Burlington Police Department
Michael R. Kent
Chief of Police
45 Center Street
Burlington, MA 01803
www.bpd.org

For Immediate Release

Monday, Feb. 26, 2018

Media Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Burlington Police Arrest Two, Seize Illegal Assault Rifle

BURLINGTON — Chief Michael Kent reports that the Burlington Police Department arrested two people and seized an illegal assault rifle after an investigation.

BRENDEN SHEILS, AGE 31, OF BURLINGTON has a lengthy criminal record and is known to police. On Thursday, Feb. 22, Burlington Police Department detectives received information that he was in possession of a firearm. SHEILS has no license to carry or FID card and his criminal record precludes him from owning firearms.

Detectives applied for and obtained a search warrant for SHEILS’ residence on Dennis Drive in Burlington. Out of an abundance of caution, and given the likely presence of a high-powered firearm, the Burlington Police Department received mutual aid assistance from the Northeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council (NEMLEC) SWAT Team.

The search, with the aid of the SWAT Team, was conducted successfully on Friday morning. During the search of the residence, investigators discovered an AR-15 assault rifle with a loaded 30 round magazine inserted, two large bags of spent shell casings and numerous rifle parts.

SHEILS was arrested and charged with:

  • Possession of a Large Capacity Firearm
  • Possession of a Large Capacity Feeding Device
  • Firearm Violation with Two Prior Violent or Drug Crimes

“This case is the product of strong detective work by our Burlington Police Department investigators who received and verified information about a dangerous felon in possession of a deadly assault rifle,” Chief Kent said. “Thanks to the diligent and quick work of our officers, both the suspect and the weapon are out of circulation at this time.”

Also arrested at the scene was PRISCILLA PERRY, AGE 36, OF BURLINGTON, who was found to have numerous arrest warrants for shoplifting.

SHEILS is currently being held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing.

1 2 3 4