Update For Boston/Watertown From Gloucester Police Chief Len Campanello

Hi Joey,

Just wanted to give your reades a brief outline of Gloucester Police Departments involvement in the Boston Marathon and ensuing events last week. Gloucester Police Department is part of a multi-jurisdictional consortium called NEMLEC (NorthEast Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council). NEMLEC deploys resources for different scenarios on a needs based analysis and when requested. One of their resources is a highly trained, quickly deployable Rapid Response Team (RRT). This team is comprised of officers from within the consortium who are uniquely trained to provide direct support in emergency events such as the bombing in Boston and the following suspect manhunt in Watertown. NEMLEC was requested by Boston Police immediately after the bombing.

A number of Gloucester Officers are specially trained and are active individual members of NEMLEC. One of these officers, our K9 handler Chris Genovese, was activiated to the NEMLEC Rapid Response Team the day of the bombing. He and a Gloucester detective assigned to the DEA were an integral part of securing Boston in the confusing hours that followed the inital blast. Additionally, both officers stayed deployed in Boston and later in Watertown and assisted closely with the manhunt and capture of the second suspect.

As a City, we received no threats of any kind as a result of this incident. In a preventive measure, I ordered the Police Safety Boat launched and several sweeps of the Harbor were made Monday night. I also deployed our second K9 on several days to check our more vulnerable areas, again being proactive and protective. Our patrol force was asked by the MBTA to make frequent checks of the commuter rail stations, which we did. We remain, as always, vigilant for any safety issues that arise, but again I want to emphasize that no threats were received or perceived for the City of Gloucester as a result of the bombings in Boston.

I am extremely proud of the affliation that Gloucester has with NEMLEC, our own officers, and in our ability to render highly trained and professional aid when needed. As a result, should Gloucester have a need, NEMLEC will be there, as they were in November when we were facing a stand-off with a suicidal person holding a gun.

Today, we mourn the loss of our brother officer from MIT and pray for the MBTA officer still hospitalized, as well as for the victims of Marathon Monday’s attacks. The support we have received from the residents of Gloucester is amazing and we thank you for all you have done to show your appreciation. In the end, this is what you pay us to do and we are humbled and honored to be abe to protect and serve the citizens of Gloucester 24/7.

Thank you for the opportunity to update your readers.

Leonard Campanello

Chief of Police

City of Gloucester, MA