Welcome to the North Reading, Massachusetts Police Department website. I hope our site will provide you with information and insight of the police services available to our community.

Over the past few years, there have been tremendous changes and progress within the department that we believe will benefit the entire community. Our main priority is providing the safest environment for our residents to live in, our commuters to work in, and our visitors to stay in.

In 2011, our Department was awarded State Accreditation, an evaluation process by which police departments strive to meet and maintain standards that have been established for the profession, by the profession. I am most proud of the outstanding reputation our agency enjoys, a tribute to the many fine men and women who dedicate themselves to professionalism and fairness, providing quality services while protecting life and property through community partnerships. Each of our members plays an integral part in the success of our department to ensure that North Reading is a great place to raise a family, go to school, and conduct business.

I am hopeful that the information provided in this site will be useful and enhance your understanding of our agency, the types of services which we provide, and the role which we play in the community.

Michael P. Murphy
Chief of Police

Responsibilities of the Chief of Police

The following is a summary of the major duties and responsibilities of the Office of the Chief of Police:

Through the Chief of Police, the Department is responsible for the enforcement of all laws coming within its legal jurisdiction. The Chief of Police is responsible for planning, directing, coordinating, controlling and staffing all activities of the department. He/she is also responsible for its continued and efficient operation, for the enforcement of rules and regulations and policy and
procedures within the department, for completion and forwarding of such reports as may be required by proper authority and for the department’s relations with local citizens, the local government and other related agencies

The Chief is responsible for the training of all members of the department. The Chief shall have charge of the station house and all property of the Police Department. The Office of the Chief of Police develops and maintains the department’s budget and town report. The Chief of Police is responsible for the hiring process and recommendations for promotion.

The Chief of Police is responsible for labor relations, negotiations at the policy level and responding to employee complaints or grievances. The Chief manages and operates the Town’s emergency 9.1.1 operations center and manages the department’s false alarm program.

Within the Office of the Chief of Police are the following:

Internal Affairs:

The Chief of Police supervises Internal Affairs.
Responsibility for this Branch Function entails ensuring that the integrity of the department is not compromised by misconduct of any employee. After a thorough and objective investigation is conducted, corrective measures will be taken to restore the integrity of the department if an employee has been found to be in violation of any department policy, procedure, rule, regulation, Federal or State Statute.

EEO/AA:

The Office of the Chief of Police is responsible for ensuring that the Department is in compliance with the Town of North Reading’s policies on Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action functions in hiring and assignment policies, rules and procedures.

Administrative Services:

There shall be an Administrative Assistant assigned to the Chief of Police. Among the function of this office are; special projects, overtime, payroll, purchasing, budgeting, and other allied functions. This is a non-sworn position.

Accreditation Management Unit:

Under the direction of the Chief of Police, the responsibility of this unit is to ensure that periodic reports, reviews, and other activities mandated by applicable accreditation standards are accomplished, in accordance with
Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission standards.