October 10, 2019

Reading Police Respond to Fatal Crash

Kelsey Bode ⋅ Client News, Police News ⋅ fatal, fatal crash, Investigation, reading, reading police ⋅ 0 Comments

Reading Police Department
David Clark, Deputy Chief
15 Union St.
Reading, MA 01867

For Immediate Release

Thursday, Oct. 10, 2019

Contact: Kelsey Bode
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Reading Police Respond to Fatal Crash

READING — Deputy Chief David Clark reports that the Reading Police Department is actively investigating a fatal motor vehicle crash on West Street.

Reading Police responded to a report of a motor vehicle crash in the area of 441 West St. at 11:21 a.m. Thursday. Upon arrival, police found that a head-on collision had taken place between two motor vehicles. A female driver of one of the vehicles was pronounced dead at the scene.

The identity of the victim is being withheld at this time pending notification of her family.

The driver of the other motor vehicle declined medical attention at the scene. Both drivers were the sole occupants of their respective vehicles.

West Street has been temporarily closed from the intersection of Willow Street and Summer Avenue to Johnson Woods Drive.

The crash remains under active investigation by the Reading Police Department and Massachusetts State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section.

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October 4, 2019

Reading Police to Host RAD Self Defense Class for Women

Kelsey Bode ⋅ Client News, Police News ⋅ RAD, RAD class, Rape Aggression Defense, rape aggression defense class, reading, reading police, self defence, self defense class ⋅ 0 Comments

Reading Police Department
David Clark, Deputy Chief
15 Union St.
Reading, MA 01867

For Immediate Release

Friday, Oct. 4, 2019

Contact: Kelsey Bode
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Reading Police to Host RAD Self Defense Class for Women

READING — Deputy Chief David Clark is pleased to announce that the Reading Police Department is hosting a free Rape Aggression Defense (R.A.D.) course for women this November.

The program is designed to teach personal safety skills. It begins with awareness, prevention, risk reduction and avoidance, and progresses to hands-on physical defense techniques.

“This course empowers women with invaluable self defense skills, and the Reading Police Department is pleased to be able to offer this opportunity to our community,” Deputy Chief Clark said. “It’s a comprehensive course, covering everything from awareness to physical defense techniques. Anyone interested in participating is encouraged to sign up.”

The course will include four sessions on the following dates and locations:

Monday, Nov. 4 from 6-9 p.m. at the Reading Police Department at 15 Union St.
Wednesday, Nov. 6 from 6-9 p.m. at Coolidge Middle School at 89 Birch Meadow Drive
Tuesday, Nov. 12 from 6-9 p.m. at Coolidge Middle School 89 Birch Meadow Drive
Wednesday, Nov. 13 from 6-10 p.m. at Coolidge Middle School 89 Birch Meadow Drive

The Reading Police Department would like to thank those who donated to support the program, in particular the Women’s League of Reading.

Reading Police have hosted R.A.D. safety classes for approximately two decades. Women interested in signing up for the course can do so by contacting Community Service Officer Kristen O’Shaughnessy at [email protected] or by calling 781-942-6761.

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September 10, 2019

Reading Police Awarded Full State Re-Accreditation

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Reading Police Department
David Clark, Deputy Chief
15 Union St.
Reading, MA 01867

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2019

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

Reading Police Awarded Full State Re-Accreditation

Left to right: Accreditation Manager Lt. Christine Amendola, Deputy Chief David Clark, Lt. Detective Richard Abate and Vice President of MPAC Chelsea Chief Brian Kyes. (Courtesy Photo Reading Police)

READING — Deputy Chief David Clark is pleased to announce that the Reading Police Department earned its re-accreditation from the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission (MPAC) today.

This is the second time the Reading Police Department has earned re-accreditation through MPAC. They first earned accreditation in 2013. MPAC recognized the department for its achievement during a ceremony at the Connors Center in Dover today.

The accreditation process is long and vigorous. It involves both an internal self-review and an external assessment by the Commission’s team of experts. The process is a self-initiated evaluation by which police departments strive to meet and maintain the top standards of law enforcement. It is considered the best measure for a police department to compare itself against the established best practices around the country and region.

Under the leadership of Accreditation Manager Lt. Christine Amendola, with assistance from Lt. Detective Richard Abate and Lt. Kevin Brown, the Reading Police Department was assessed earlier this year by a team of commission-appointed assessors. The Assessment Team found the department to be in compliance with all applicable standards for accreditation.

“Earning re-accreditation for the second time illustrates that the Reading Police Department continues to maintain the highest standards of policing,” Deputy Chief Clark said. “I want to commend Lt. Amendola for taking the lead on this process and thank Lt. Detective Abate, and Lt. Brown for their hard work. I’m extremely proud of everything we’ve accomplished this year, and earning re-accreditation is a testament to that.”

The MPAC program requires that departments meet all 257 of their mandatory standards and 60 percent of the 125 optional requirements. These carefully selected measures include: Jurisdiction and Mutual Aid, Collection and Preservation of Evidence, Communications, Working Conditions, Crime Analysis, Community Involvement, Financial Management, Internal Affairs, Juvenile Operations, Patrol Administration, Public Information, Records, Traffic, Training, Drug Enforcement and Victim/Witness Assistance.

The Commission offers two program awards: certification and accreditation, with accreditation the higher of the two. Accreditation is granted for a period of three years. Participation in the program is strictly voluntary.

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August 22, 2019

Reading Police to Participate in ‘Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over’ Campaign

Kelsey Bode ⋅ Client News, Police News ⋅ drive sober, Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over, executive office of public safety and security, executive office of public safety and security highway safety division, grant, increased patrol, patrols, reading, reading police, road safety, safety ⋅ 0 Comments

Reading Police Department
David Clark, Deputy Chief
15 Union St.
Reading, MA 01867

For Immediate Release

Thursday, Aug. 22, 2019

Media Contact: Kelsey Bode
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: kelsey[email protected]

Reading Police to Participate in ‘Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over’ Campaign

READING — Deputy Chief David Clark reports that the Reading Police Department will be increasing the number of patrols on local roads as part of a national “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign.

The campaign is an initiative of the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security’s Highway Safety Division and will continue through the remainder of the summer and into the fall. Additional patrols by the Reading Police Department are being funded for the initiative by a grant from the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security.

Police urge motorists who have been drinking or using marijuana or other drugs to plan ahead and designate a driver, use a ride-sharing service or take public transportation.

“Impaired driving is incredibly dangerous, and endangers the lives of the driver, passengers, nearby motorists and pedestrians,” Deputy Chief Clark said. “We urge residents– never, ever drive while impaired by any substance. Plan ahead: designate a sober driver or use public transportation.”

Reading Police will have several officers on the lookout for impaired and reckless drivers over the coming weeks. Everyone is reminded to never get behind the wheel if they have been drinking and to never get into a vehicle if the driver is impaired.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, approximately 30 people are killed daily in the United States by crashes that involve impaired driving, killing approximately 10,000 people each year.

The Reading Police Department is joining 140 local law enforcement agencies across the Commonwealth, as well as the Massachusetts State Police, by enhancing its efforts to keep impaired drivers off the road.

“The most important responsibility of anyone behind the wheel is to drive safely,” said Jeff Larason, director of the OGR Highway Safety Division. “As summer vacation turns into back-to-school season, it’s important that motorists take seriously their responsibility to stay sober and alert.”

If you are charged with operating a vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol, you will lose your license and could face jail time and incur the cost of significant fines and expenses.

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