The North Reading Police Department utilizes several specialty units to better serve our community. They are:

• Accreditation Unit
• Breathalyzer Unit
• Car Seat Installation Unit
• Crime Prevention Unit
• CPR Unit
• Defensive Tactics
• E911/Dispatch/Communications
• Domestic Violence Unit
• Elder Services
• Firearms Licensing Unit
• Firearms Training Unit
• Fleet Management
• Infectious Control Unit
• Juvenile officer
• LEAPS / CJIS Unit
• Media Relations Unit
• NEMLEC
• RAD Unit
• Safety Unit
• Sex Offender Registry
• Training Unit

Accreditation Unit

This Unit reviews the practices of the North Reading Police
Department to make sure they are in compliance with the standards set forth by the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission.

The law enforcement accreditation system establishes a uniform set of “Best Practices” for police agencies that are consistent on a state wide scale, measurable, verified by an independent body as to compliance, and creates accountability to the community, elected policy makers, and the line officers who are performing the day to day work.

Every standard is intended to make an agency more professional while at the same time improving its services to the community.

ACCREDITATION PROCESS

Accreditation is a self-initiated evaluation process by which police departments strive to meet and maintain standards that have been established for the profession, by the profession. These carefully selected standards reflect critical areas of police management, operations, and technical support activities. They cover areas such as policy development, emergency response planning, training, communications, property and evidence handling, use of force, vehicular pursuit, prisoner transportation and holding facilities. The program not only sets standards for the law enforcement profession, but also for the delivery of police services to citizens of the commonwealth.

“Achieving Accreditation from the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission is considered a very significant accomplishment, and is a recognition that is highly regarded by the law enforcement community,” said Donna Taylor Mooers, the Commission’s Executive Director.”
The Commission offers two program awards: Certification and Accreditation, with Accreditation being the higher of the two. Accreditation has been granted for a period of three years. Participation in the program is strictly voluntary. The North Reading Police Department obtained Certification in October 2010 and accreditated in January 2011.

BENEFITS OF ACCREDITATION

The standards for accreditation impact officer and public safety, address high liability/risk management issues, and generally promote operational efficiency throughout the agency. The benefits are therefore many and will vary among participating departments based on the state of the department when it enters the process. In other words, the benefits will be better known when the department quantifies the changes that it made as a direct result of achieving accreditation. Generally, these changes involve policy writing, facility improvements and equipment purchases. Listed below are some of the more common benefits.

Accreditation is important because:

• Provides a norm for an agency to judge its performance.
• Provides a basis to correct deficiencies before they become public problems.
• Requires agencies to commit policies and procedures to writing.
• Promotes accountability among agency personnel and the evenhanded application of policies.
• Provides a means of independent evaluation of agency operations.
• Minimizes an agency’s exposure to liability, builds a stronger defense against lawsuits and has the potential to reduce liability insurance costs.
• Enhances the reputation of the agency and increases the public’s confidence in it.

Breathalyzer Unit

This unit is responsible for the efficient and effective operation of the Department’s booking room breathalyzer and the portable breathalyzer units. Responsible to liaison with the Massachusetts Office of Alcohol Testing and the Municipal Training Council for any updated equipment or training needs.

Car Seat Installation Unit

This unit installs and inspects infant car seats free by appointment to all North Reading residents. Information about the program can be found at www.safekids.org

Currently we have one officer who have received National Certification from the “National Child Passenger Safety Certification Training Program” (CPS). If you would like to request an appointment you can email at: carseatinstall@nrpd.org or call: 978-357-5087.

“The National Child Passenger Safety Certification Training Program (CPS certification program) certifies people as child passenger safety technicians and instructors. Since the CPS certification program began in 1997, more than 126,000 people have successfully completed the CPS Certification Course, including 36,000 currently certified CPS technicians. Many technicians are trained health and safety professionals, others are parents, and some are volunteers. They all have one thing in common: they care deeply about kids and want to make sure they’re safe.

CPS technicians and instructors put their knowledge to work by conducting child safety seat checks, where parents and caregivers receive hands-on assistance for proper use of child restraint systems and safety belts. These dedicated technicians offer education, support and guidance in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories. The U.S. CPS certification program is widely considered to be the gold standard across the globe.” (cert.safekids.org)

Car seat installations and or checks will be available by appointment only.

Our CPS technician reports that there have been additional mass recalls on child safety seats throughout the US. The following link to the Mass.gov website has the current “NHTSA Child Safety Seat Recall List.”

For more information on car seats or Automobile safety, Please click here to check out the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) website.

Crime Prevention Unit

This unit’s function is creating an awareness of the roles North Reading residents and business persons can play in the reduction and/or prevention of crime; then encouraging individual, group, school, neighborhood, and community follow-up activities to reduce/prevent crime.

This unit will also assist in crime resistance, to help increase public awareness of the conditions and circumstances which lead to vulnerability of crime. Also, to build respect for the police so that police objectives receive public support.

A Crime Prevention Officer will go to a Business location or a resident’s home or apartment and conduct a “target-hardening” survey of the property and offer advise as to how to make the property less susceptible to break-ins. A new outreach effort includes sending letters offering this service to victims of a housebreak.

The North Reading Police Department will also offer the following services to members of the community:

• Residential Security Surveys;
• Commercial Security Surveys;
• Crime Prevention Presentations (schools, churches, community groups, businesses);
• Drug Awareness Seminars;
• Crime Watch Alerts;
• Residential vacation checks;
• Provide crime prevention input into development and/or revision of zoning policies, building codes, fire codes, and residential/commercial building permits;
• Work with the community to develop/organize neighborhood crime watch meetings.

To set up your security survey please contact
Phone 978-664-3131 x 5030
Fax 978-357-5092

Mail North Reading Police Dept
Attention Crime Prevention
152 Park Street
North Reading, MA 01864

CPR Unit

This unit annually certifies every member of the North Reading PD in CPR/AED.
They also provide informational instruction and training to the public.

If you would like to inquire about the next public CPR class,
call 978-357-5057

Defensive Tactics

This unit provides updated defensive tactics training to all sworn Department members.
This training is certified and guided by the Massachusetts Municipal Police Training Committee.

E911/Dispatch/Communications

This Unit is responsible for the E911 Dispatch Communications Center.

The unit works with outside vendors to maintain the E911 system, radio and telephone communications, video and audio communications, and computer aided dispatch 24 hours a day 7 days a week. This unit is on call as needed.

Domestic Violence Unit

This unit is responsible for handling the follow-up investigations in all cases of Domestic Violence.

Click here for the Massachusetts Victim Bill of Rights.

Elder Services

This unit liaison with the Town of North Reading Elder Services to help provide North Reading elderly a place to safely age with dignity and independence in the homes and in the community which they helped build.

Firearms Licensing Unit

At the direction of the Chief of Police, who is designated as the licensing authority by Massachusetts General Law, this unit is responsible for processing all applications for license to carry a firearm (LTC) and firearms identification card (FID) in accordance with Massachusetts General Laws.

If you would like to apply for a firearms license contact the unit by email or calling, 978-357-5017 and leave your name, phone number, and reason you are calling.

This is by appointment only.

Firearms Training Unit

This unit is responsible for the maintenance and security of all property and equipment contained in the Department’s armory, along with the maintaining and updating of records relative to all weapons for the department.

This unit is also responsible for the training and records keeping of all authorized weapons for the Town of North Reading Police Department

Fleet Management

This unit is responsible for documentation and control of the purchase, repair and maintenance of all police vehicles.

Infectious Control Unit

This unit serves to continuously provide members of this Department with equipment and up-to-date information on communicable diseases. The designated infection control officer (DICO) will be responsible for communicating with appropriate personnel at the hospital or elsewhere in relation to the potential for transmission of disease to
employee(s) of the department.

Juvenile Officer

The Juvenile Officer / School Resource Officer is available for conferences with children and parents, to offer assistance and advice on problems they are having.

For assistance, contact by email or you can call him at the police department at 978-357-5119.

LEAPS / CJIS Unit

The CJIS (Criminal Justice Information System) Representative(s) shall act as a liaison to CHSB (Criminal History Systems Board) to ensure the proper administration of CJIS at the agency level.

The responsibilities of the CJIS Representative include:

• Ensuring that training is available to all authorized CJIS users within six (6) months of employment and every two years thereafter.
• Providing certificates of achievement for the successful completion of training.
• Ensuring the validation process is completed and is submitted to the CSS Unit on or before each month’s specified due date.
• Proper password maintenance as required by CJIS security policy, including disabling of accounts for individuals who have been suspended, fired, retired or have voluntarily terminated their own employment.
• Distribution of publications to agency personnel as directed by the CHSB. Comply with any rule, regulation or directive set forth by CHSB.

Media Relations Unit

The North Reading Police Department Media Relations Unit will make every effort to develop a constructive and professional working relationship with all representatives of the news media. By providing the news media and the community with information on department administrations and operations, a continued relationship of mutual trust, cooperation and respect can be maintained.

The Department also has retained the services of John Guilfoil Public Relations LLC to perform outreach, write press releases, manage the media during incidents, and other services related to Media Relations.

NEMLEC

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.

For more for information on NEMLEC or the NEMLEC Foundation, visit NEMLEC’s
websites at
nemlec.org/
www.nemlecfoundation.org

RAD unit

This program provides safety tips and self defense options for females.
Information about the program can be found on the internet at www.Rad-Systems.com.

Three police officers and two members are nationally certified R.A.D Instructors.

To see when we will be having another class, contact

Chief Zimmerman at 978-357-5028 or email at mzimmerman@nrpd.org

Safety Unit

The position of the safety officer provides a complex variety of services to the Department and the Town. These services range from conducting bicycle safety programs for children to examining roadway designs for sub-divisions.

The Safety Officer coordinates effort with other Town Departments to; perform traffic analysis; review sub-division plans for motor vehicle and pedestrian safety and roadway design; monitors traffic conditions and crash reports (safety, volume, lighting, sight distance issues, accident causes…) to recommend corrective action or enforcement plans; monitor traffic control and traffic signage throughout the Town to ensure they are meeting their intended control.

If you have a safety concern contact Sergeant O’Leary at soleary@nrpd.org.

School Resource Officer (SRO) unit

For more information, contact the SRO, or you can call him at the police department at 978-357-5119.

The main purpose of the School Resource Officer (SRO) program is to better coordinate effort between the North Reading School Department and the North Reading Police Department in helping to provide and maintain a safe and secure environment which is conducive to learning within the schools.

The School Resource Officer has three main functions: law enforcement officer, teacher, and adviser.

1. As a law enforcement officer, the S.R.0 maintains a safe and secure school environment in which students feel safe to learn and teachers feel safe to teach. 2. As a teacher, the S.R.O. may conduct classroom presentations pertaining to law related topics and in doing so, informs students and promotes positive attitudes regarding the police role in society.

3. The S.R.O. acts as an advisor to students, parents, teachers, and staff on issues
related to the law enforcement, substance abuse, delinquency, and other law
related topics. The S.R.O. may talk with the students, parents, teachers, and staff
about their problems and help them find possible solutions. When necessary, the
S.R.O. may make referrals to appropriate social agencies for additional assistance.

The most effective way an S.R.O. can accomplish these goals is to be a positive role model. Students learn from every interaction they have with an S.R.O. It is essential for an S.R.0 to be a positive role model who endorses good judgment and discretion, is consistent and fair, respects all students and displays a sincere concern for the school community.

School Resource Officers must maintain a professional appearance; be visible, accessible and willing to talk to students; attend and participate in school activities; interact positively with students and the community, taking their concerns seriously; and maintain a positive relationship with the faculty and administrators.

One of the SRO’s main responsibilities is to enhance the communication between the North Reading Police Department and the North Reading School Department.

The School Resource Officer’s responsibilities include:

• Lead or assist in investigating all crimes that occur in school or at school sponsored events.
• Assist schools in filing complaints with the Department of Social Services and Juvenile Court.
• Counsel and mentor students.
• Attend Guidance meetings when requested.
• Attend safety meetings and assist schools in practicing safety protocols.
• Assist administrators when called upon.

The SRO also assists in establishing safety plans for the entire school district. Some of the safety plans established include:

• Intruder Drills (lock downs).
• Weapons in Schools.
• Evacuation Drills.
• Missing/Lost or Abducted Student.
• Medical Emergencies.
• Bomb Threats.
• Bus Accidents.

SROs are available for conferences with students, parents, and faculty members to offer assistance and advice on problems related to law enforcement and crime prevention.

Training Unit

The Training Unit shall have the responsibilities for implementing those training programs developed within the department and for career counseling, to give personnel direction and guidance to enhance their skills and abilities, to better prepare them for accepting positions of greater responsibility.

The goal of the North Reading Police Training Division is to set and enforce training standards to identify and meet the training needs and facilitate the delivery of up-to-date, state of the art training.

In order to ensure that our officers are up to date with the latest changes in criminal and procedural law, North Reading Police Officers are required to attend annual in-service training. M.G.L. chapter 41, Section 96B, requires every full-time municipal police officer to attend a prescribed course of study approved by the Municipal Police Training Committee. All personnel receive training updates on motor vehicle law, criminal law, domestic violence, CPR, AED (Automatic External Defibrillator) training, First Responder (First Aid), sexual harassment training, community policing, Use of Force and other courses as necessary.

One of the best ways to retain staff is to provide career development tools to help them succeed. The North Reading Police Department is committed to providing our officers with the necessary training to provide the highest quality of professional policing to the community.