HISTORY OF THE NORTHBRIDGE POLICE DEPARTMENT
with a small section of historical photographs (all at the bottom of this page)

  click here to view  Police Roster

The Northbridge Police Department was established in 1920.  Prior to this, police work was handled by elected constables.  Levi Walker, a land owner, became a constable in the Town of Northbridge in 1772.  Mr. Walker had been constable of "The End", an area that would become Northbridge, which was once a part of the Town of Uxbridge at the time.

Between 1920 and 1934, there were four Chief's of Police.  The Town had five more Chiefs, who lived in Town and knew the people.  The first was J. Albert Cullen, followed by Peter Buma, Thomas J. Fitzgerald, Leslie Wood, and Thomas J. Melia Jr.  Between 1920 and 1988, many advancements were made.  The department placed two way radios in the police cruisers, and the basement of the Town Hall was made into the police station.  The old police teletype was replaced with a modern computer system.  However, the biggest advancement came in 1988, when the police department moved from the Town Hall into a new police station on Hope Street.

On December 31, 1930, the police department lost its only officer killed in the line of duty.  Officer John W. English was killed while doing traffic duty on Providence Road near what is known as Electric Pond.  Officer English's name is on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington D.C.   Still in existence today, the Auxiliary Police act as additional eyes and ears for the police. These auxiliary officers are available for emergencies, disasters, and public events requiring crowd and traffic control.

From 1988 to January 2006, Chief of Police, Thomas J. Melia III, (the Town's tenth Chief of Police) continued making more improvements to the police department.  Chief Melia was able to make a Lieutenant's position with the promotion of Sgt. Richard P. Lachapelle.  Chief Melia also started a detective division with Sgt. Shawn P. Heney becoming Detective Sergeant.  The department switched from revolvers to new semi-automatic pistols.  During this time the department became computerized, and this has been upgraded over the years through various funding, and or grants received through the efforts of Chief Melia and Lt. Walter J. Warchol, who was promoted after the retirement of Lt. Lachapelle and who is now the current Chief of Police.  Computers were placed into cruisers in February of 1998, and the booking camera was changed to a digital camera.  The department also switched to civilian dispatchers in order to free up officers for the street.  These dispatchers were trained in the E911 system aspects of dispatching.  The department also became more active in the Blackstone Valley Drug Task Force and Community Policing through grants.  Under Chief Melia, the department trained two officers for the D.A.R.E. program, an educational program to help fight drug abuse and control violence.  Under the Community Policing grants, and with financial assistance from one of our local banks, the department bought two police bicycles and started bike patrols in various parts of town.

Under the Community Policing grants, the first Civilian Police Academy was formed and has continued each year since its inception.  Chief Melia, a firm believer in education has sent one Lieutenant and four patrol sergeants to the three week Command Training School at Babson College.  Chief Melia has also encouraged his officers to continue their education and because of that, the Northbridge Police Department has one of the highest numbers of officers with Associates, Bachelors and Masters Degrees in the Blackstone Valley.  Chief Melia has also increased the number of officers on the department bringing the department closer to the number of officers per citizen ratio that the FBI recommends.

As Northbridge grew and changed, so did its police department.  Two-way radio system was installed in police headquarters as well as the departments patrol cars. This dramatically increased the police response time to the growing number of calls being received each year. As the day-to-day needs and problems of the community increased, so did the demands placed upon the police force. Increased training, additional manpower and better equipment soon became necessary.  Society began to recognize the need for specialized police training and Northbridge police officers began attending formal training programs. This type of formal training became mandatory for all police officers throughout Massachusetts.  All police officers had to attend an accredited police academy.  Once a year our officers are required to attend an in-service training session at the Criminal Justice Training center in West Boylston.
 

Throughout the 1950's, 60's, and 70's, manpower and equipment began to improve. More police vehicles were purchased and new lifesaving equipment accompanied officers on patrol for the first time.  Radar equipment for speed enforcement, and hand held portable radios for more effective communications were placed into service.  During the late 1990's, an in-house computer based record-keeping system was implemented. This concept continues today, with a systems manager who  maintains our software and network systems. With the help of funding provided by Federal Grants, Northbridge patrol cars are equipped with in-vehicle computers known as mobile display terminals (M.D.T.'s). This networked system allows officers on patrol instant access to FBI criminal and wanted person files, as well as several other state and countywide law enforcement databases, including the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles. This system has resulted in the detention of numerous wanted persons and other violators found on the streets our Town.

Currently, the Northbridge Police Department consists of twenty one full-time police officers, one full-time administrative assistant to the Chief of Police, police aids, and four full time police dispatchers.  Sworn police personnel are divided into two divisions, consisting of a patrol section and a detective bureau. The command staff presently includes the Chief of police, and one Lieutenant.  There are four patrol Sergeants, one Detective Sergeant and two Detectives.  Several of our officers also provide specialized services including, domestic violence investigation,  computer and technical services, as well as firearms training, in addition to their normal patrol assignments.

The Northbridge Police Department receives approximately 1500 calls-for-service each month. Routine calls involve a police response to a wide range of incidents, and may include crimes such as burglary, theft, fraud, domestic violence, drug and alcohol offenses, disputes, as well as trauma and medical problems, motor vehicle accidents, or public disturbances. A substantial portion of our time is also devoted to those quality-of-life issues which are important to our citizenry, such as code enforcement, traffic safety, and the provision of other community-oriented police services. Much like the rest of the nation, Northbridge has experienced a reduction in crime, and the officers of the Northbridge Police Department look forward to the continuance of this trend. In keeping with this, we have dedicated ourselves to assisting and supporting the community, and to keeping the Town of Northbridge a great place to live and work, as we move forward into the next century.

Other Historical Photos

Officer Fitzgerald  -  Chief Cullen  -  Sgt. Buma  -  Officer Wood

Patrolman Tom Melia Jr.     Sgt. Les Wood

Officer Bill Audette at the old Police Headquarters