Massachusetts State Police

The April edition of French and Electric Blue is the best issue yet!  Colonel Alben’s message highlights a variety of training initiatives and the premier of the monthly  “Spotlight On” section features hard-charging Trooper Keith Ledin of Troop “D.”  In other news, the Crime Scene Services Section’s new 3-D crime scene scanner is discussed as is the tale of K-9 Mako’s journey from Slovakia to the Commonwealth.

The poignant cover story discusses how Troopers from Troop “H” were able to grant a child’s wish by transporting him from the hospital to his home in East Bridgewater.  The Narcotics Section is also profiled.

Thank you for reading and welcome to the April edition of French and Electric Blue!

The January 2013 edition of French and Electric Blue is here!  The new edition features stories on how Troop “B” is responding to concerns about school safety and how SP Tunnels has dealt with a new challenge:  homelessness.  We discuss the combined SSPO/Local Training Academy being held at the SPA in New Braintree, ATV training, and the retirements of Gary McLaughlin and Sergeant James Ellis of SP Nantucket.  The Media Relations Unit is profiled and, as always, the busiest Troopers and Stations are identified.  

Welcome to the July Edition of “French & Electric Blue”.  If you thought that our first effort back in March was good, you’ll be even more impressed with what you see and read this time around.  April through July is arguably the busiest time of year throughout  the department with award and memorial ceremonies, outdoor festivities and celebrations.  With a new class finally on their own, there is an infusion of new energy and enthusiasm that abounds, particularly within the Division of field Services. In her final “Colonel’s Message”, Colonel McGovern highlights many of the highlights and the dangers we face each day. Honor, sacrifice,  courage, integrity and service! They’re attributes of great Troopers and great organizations. This is what goes into the work of our members  EVERY DAY!  We capture those qualities here in stories of Ellen Engelhardt’s name being placed on the National Police Memorial, the MAWLE award winners, “Way Above and Beyond”, C-3 Policing and a look back at “Runaway Memories”.  The future of the MSP Air Wing is very bright! The opening story, “Trooper Shot in Chicopee”, will provide some perspective as to how dangerous this job can be and how fast things can change. As you read that story, think about Trooper John Vasquez’s response and the heroic efforts of Trooper Keller Williams, Chicopee Police Officers David Benoit and Johnny Jusino as well as a citizen, Ward Hamilton, who happens to be a former police officer in Connecticut. Under fire, they moved John out of harm’s way to safety after he was hit and his cruiser was pierced by 16 rounds from an assault rifle.  Everyday heroes doing their jobs!  Be proud of what you do and be ever vigilant.

Effective Wednesday, May 1, 2013 at 1000 hours, the Massachusetts State Police H-5 Barracks at 1400 Soldiers Field Rd., Brighton, will temporarily be relocated to the State Police Boston H-4 Barracks at 250 Leverett Circle, Boston. During this relocation, State Police Brighton operations will be run out of the State Police Boston H-4 Barracks at Leverett Circle.  State Police Brighton patrols will continue to operate in their area of jurisdiction, which includes Allston, Brighton, Belmont, Brookline, Newton, Watertown, and Waltham. The non-emergency phone number for the Brighton Barracks, (617) 727-4812, will remain operational.  Signage will be posted at the old SP Brighton Barracks informing the public of the relocation. This relocation is designed to be temporary.  

On October 24, 2012 the Massachusetts State Police Academy began its first simultaneous training of local and SSPO student officers in years. State Police Municipal Academy (SPMA) #4 and Special State Police Officer (SSPO) #24 started the academy together and will train together in classes such as criminal law, criminal procedure, first responder, physical training, defensive tactics, domestic violence, patrol procedures and other classes required by both police recruit classes. On day one, 59 municipal recruits from every corner of the Commonwealth and 27 SSPO recruits arrived in New Braintree.

On November 8, 2012, Troop H held its Troop Commander’s Award Ceremony at   Medi-Tech Corporation in Canton, MA.  Thirty-eight (38) members of the Department along with (2) Framingham officers and (2) civilians were honored during the ceremony.  Over eighty (80) family members and friends joined Troop H Commander, Major Thomas Grenham and Division Commander of Field Services, LTC Edward Amodeo in congratulating the recipients.

On October 25, 2012, three members of the Massachusetts State Police were honored with awards by the Massachusetts Police Association at their annual convention held in Plymouth.  Trooper John Vasquez, Trooper Keller Williams and Trooper David Podworski were recognized along with several members of the Chicopee Police Department for their actions while responding to a report of a gunman terrorizing a neighborhood at approximately 8 AM near a busy intersection in the center of Chicopee.  Trooper Williams, then assigned to the Governor’s Auto Theft Strike Force (now in VFAS), was the first Trooper to respond with Chicopee PD and started taking gunfire from a subject with an assault rifle. 

On October 16, 2012, Troop B held a Memorial Service to honor their six fallen Troopers who have been killed in the line of duty.  The service was the idea of Trooper Andrew Canata of SP Cheshire, who last year noticed that three of their names were not on the Western Massachusetts Fallen Police Officers Memorial.  He rectified that oversight, and thought it would be appropriate for Troop B to honor its fallen members with permanent reminders.

A Bridge Dedication Ceremony honoring Sergeant Douglas A. Weddleton was held at Christina’s Restaurant on Route 1 in Foxboro on May 1^st, 2012.  Sergeant Weddleton was struck and killed on   Route 95 in the town of Mansfield in the early morning hours of June 18, 2010 by two alleged drunk drivers while he was ensuring the safety of a construction crew.

On February 15, 2013, in New Braintree, fifty-six police officers joined the Massachusetts law enforcement community upon graduating from the Massachusetts State Police Academy as members of State Police Municipal Academy Class #4.