The North Eastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council (NEMLEC) began in 1963, when a group of progressive police chiefs in Middlesex County began meeting informally to share information and brainstorm about common problems. These police chiefs from Burlington, North Reading, Reading, Stoneham, Wakefield, Wilmington, Winchester, and Woburn came together during the turbulent social and political struggles in the 1960s, when police departments were experiencing an increase in crime.
The NEMLEC police chiefs formally incorporated as a non-profit organization on July 3, 1969. By this time, the total number of member communities had increased to twenty-two. Today, NEMLEC consists of fifty (51) police and two (2) sheriffs departments in Middlesex County and Essex County.
NEMLEC is a professional law enforcement organization that maximizes and expands member resources and capabilities by sharing equipment, knowledge, and personnel. Agencies operate though mutual aid agreements and must follow established protocol to request assistance from NEMLEC units and resources.
NEMLEC units are composed of highly trained and skilled officers from member agencies under the command of a control police chief. They are a primary source of assistance and support and are available to member police chiefs who activate them in accordance with written protocol.
The North Reading Police Department has three officers assigned to various specialized units within NEMLEC.
