Lowell Police Department (Lowell, Massachusetts)
Encyclopedia
The Lowell Police Department (LPD) has the primary responsibility for law enforcement and investigation for a population of about 107,000 in the 14.5 square miles (37.6 km²) city of Lowell, Massachusetts
. Lowell is the fourth largest city in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and is county seat of Middlesex County, Massachusetts
.
s, 30 Sergeant
s, 13 Lieutenant
s, 9 Captains
, 2 Deputy Superintendent
, and a Superintendent (or Chief). Making a total of 222 sworn officers.
and Disorder
could be most effectively fought with the presence of a constant officer in neighborhoods. This method also seemed to be the most logical thing for supervision and accountability
of each officer. There was frustration experienced by both officers and residents regarding the ability of officers to investigate neighborhood crimes. It was determined that officers who have the knowledge
of a specific area and a relationship with the residents were to be assigned there, where they could best police the area. With this assignment method it is hoped that officers and residents will become more readily acquainted and will be more helpful to each other. Geographic assignment, the final phase of the Reorganization of the LPD, commenced on 17 January 1999. The city has been divided into three sectors which is each commanded by a Captain who has overall responsibility for the administration, neighborhood problems and concerns, as well as the success of his/her sector.
Commanded by: Captain Kevin Sullivan
West Sector
Commanded by: Captain William Taylor
North Sector
Commanded by: Captain Kelly Richardson
Housing Authority
Commanded by: Sergeant O'Neill
Commanded by:
INVESTIGATIVE SERVICES DIVISION
Traffic Division
Commanded by: Lieutenant Timothy Crowley
On-Call Units
Professional Standards Division
Commanded by: Captain Randall Humphrey
Lowell, Massachusetts
Lowell is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA. According to the 2010 census, the city's population was 106,519. It is the fourth largest city in the state. Lowell and Cambridge are the county seats of Middlesex County...
. Lowell is the fourth largest city in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and is county seat of Middlesex County, Massachusetts
Middlesex County, Massachusetts
-National protected areas:* Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge* Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge* Longfellow National Historic Site* Lowell National Historical Park* Minute Man National Historical Park* Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge...
.
Community Policing Philosophy
The Lowell Police Department serves its community in the following ways:- Providing emergency responses to crime
- Working with neighborhoods and businesses to identify and solve problems
- Sponsoring comprehensive recreational and educational programs for youth, including the in-school DAREDrug Abuse Resistance EducationDrug Abuse Resistance Education, better known as DARE, is an international education program that seeks to prevent use of controlled drugs, membership in gangs, and violent behavior. D.A.R.E., which has expanded globally since its founding in 1983, is a demand-side drug control strategy of the U.S....
program, the DARE Summer camp, and other collective efforts with community organizations - Developing specialized responses to crimes such as domestic violenceDomestic violenceDomestic violence, also known as domestic abuse, spousal abuse, battering, family violence, and intimate partner violence , is broadly defined as a pattern of abusive behaviors by one or both partners in an intimate relationship such as marriage, dating, family, or cohabitation...
and gang activity - Ongoing training of police personnel to best address community needs
- Community-based policing, with neighborhood precinctPrecinctA precinct is a space enclosed by the walls or other boundaries of a particular place or building, or by an arbitrary and imaginary line drawn around it. The term has several different uses...
stations, immersing police into the neighborhoods to most effectively interact with residents - Specialized foot, bike, and boat patrols to improve visibility of officers
- Use of technology to enhance the delivery of public safety services
- Mobile van command center to address pressing needs throughout the city.
Mission statement
To work with the community to reduce crime, the fear of crime, and improve the quality of life in the city of Lowell.Training Academy
The Lowell Police Department's Training Academy has been in operation since 1996 and have schooled over 350 men and women from 48 cities and towns about the ins and outs of police work. The LPD Academy consists 50 classes over the course of 22 weeks of training (880 hours). It is held in conjunction with the Cambridge and Lawrence Police Department. In 2010, the LPD moved its Training Division from the CrossPoint Towers to the Early Garage downtown.LPD Operations
The Lowell Police Department is made up of 167 Police OfficerPolice officer
A police officer is a warranted employee of a police force...
s, 30 Sergeant
Sergeant
Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
s, 13 Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
s, 9 Captains
Police captain
- France :France uses the rank of capitaine for management duties in both uniformed and plain-clothed policing. The rank comes senior to lieutenant and junior to commandant....
, 2 Deputy Superintendent
Deputy Superintendent
Deputy superintendent, or deputy superintendent of police , was a rank used by police forces of the British Empire. In some territories it was called Deputy District Superintendent of police ....
, and a Superintendent (or Chief). Making a total of 222 sworn officers.
Geographic Responsibility
Through a strategic planning process known as Geographic Responsibility, as well as input from the people of Lowell, it was determined that CrimeCrime
Crime is the breach of rules or laws for which some governing authority can ultimately prescribe a conviction...
and Disorder
Lawlessness
Lawlessness may be:* lack of law, in any of the various senses of that word ;* chaos;* anomie;* anarchy;* anarchism* anarchism* randomness;* antinomianism;...
could be most effectively fought with the presence of a constant officer in neighborhoods. This method also seemed to be the most logical thing for supervision and accountability
Accountability
Accountability is a concept in ethics and governance with several meanings. It is often used synonymously with such concepts as responsibility, answerability, blameworthiness, liability, and other terms associated with the expectation of account-giving...
of each officer. There was frustration experienced by both officers and residents regarding the ability of officers to investigate neighborhood crimes. It was determined that officers who have the knowledge
Knowledge
Knowledge is a familiarity with someone or something unknown, which can include information, facts, descriptions, or skills acquired through experience or education. It can refer to the theoretical or practical understanding of a subject...
of a specific area and a relationship with the residents were to be assigned there, where they could best police the area. With this assignment method it is hoped that officers and residents will become more readily acquainted and will be more helpful to each other. Geographic assignment, the final phase of the Reorganization of the LPD, commenced on 17 January 1999. The city has been divided into three sectors which is each commanded by a Captain who has overall responsibility for the administration, neighborhood problems and concerns, as well as the success of his/her sector.
Sectors and Precincts
East SectorCommanded by: Captain Kevin Sullivan
- Back Central
- Downtown
- South Lowell
- Sacred Heart
West Sector
Commanded by: Captain William Taylor
- Acre
- Lower Highlands
- Highlands
North Sector
Commanded by: Captain Kelly Richardson
- Belvidere
- Centralville
- Pawtucketville
Housing Authority
Commanded by: Sergeant O'Neill
- Housing Authority Precinct
Special Services
SPECIAL OPERATIONS UNITCommanded by:
- River Unit (Boat)
- Motorcycle Squad
- Honor Guard
- K-9 Unit (3 Officers)
INVESTIGATIVE SERVICES DIVISION
- Criminal Investigation (Criminal Detectives)Commanded by: Lieutenant Larocque
- Special Investigation (Vice Unit)Commanded by: Lieutenant Hodgdon
- Cross Border Initiative (Works with DEA)
Traffic Division
Commanded by: Lieutenant Timothy Crowley
- Special section designed to reduce motor vehicle violations and traffic accidents within the city.
On-Call Units
- Dignitary Protection Unit (Protects dignitaries while in Lowell including Governor/Lt. Governor of Massachusetts)
- Dive Team
- Motorcycle Unit
- NEMLEC (Northeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council)
Professional Standards Division
Commanded by: Captain Randall Humphrey
- Investigates complaints against officers and affairs within the department
Line of Duty Deaths
Since its inception, the Lowell Police Department has lost four police officers in the line of duty. In 1978, Officer Christos Rouses, was shot and killed while responding to a silent alarm at a local pharmacy. In 1980, there was a memorial depicting an officer with his hand on the right shoulder of a young child placed in his honor directly in front of Department headquarters at JFK Plaza. The memorial, which sits in the center of a fountain has the names of:- Officer George F. A. Pearsall, killed by gunfire on 24 April 1957
- Officer Christos G. Rouses, killed by gunfire on 17 November 1978
- Officer Patrick F. Leavitt, died after Heart Attack on 18 December 1941
- Officer John J. Winn, killed by assault on 3 May 1971
In popular culture
- The LPD is featured heavily in the Ronan Marino private eye series by Lloyd Corricelli
- Also featured in the film "The Fighter" based on the life of Mickey Ward in Lowell