The Essex Police Department would like to wish Chief Paul Francis well as he retires today from a 30-year career in law enforcement. Thank you Chief!!!
Read morePolice Chief Paul Francis’ Final Radio Call
Author: jgprrobert
Essex Police Chief Paul Francis Retiring, Sgt. Tom Shamshak to Take Over as Chief of Department
ESSEX — The Essex Board of Selectmen reports that Police Chief Paul Francis is retiring effective April 11, and he will be replaced by the promotion of an 18-year veteran of the Essex Police Department, Sgt. Tom Shamshak. Chief Francis, a lifelong resident of Gloucester, joined the Essex Police Department in 1995 as a reserve police officer, and joined the department full-time after graduating from the Lowell Police Academy in 1997. He was promoted to sergeant in 2007, and became chief in 2019. Chief Francis holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Curry College. Chief Francis is most proud
Read moreEssex Police and Fire Departments Share Cooling Center Information and Hot Weather Safety Tips
The Essex Police and Fire Departments, along with the Board of Health and Council on Aging, would like to share cooling center information and hot weather safety tips ahead of another stretch of hot weather expected this week. Temperatures are forecast to be in the upper-80s and 90s over the next several days, with heat indexes reaching even higher. The following locations in the Town of Essex will be open this week and have air conditioning available for those who stop in: Town Hall Auditorium, open Monday to Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Essex Library, open Thursday from
Read moreStuff-a-Cruiser and Coffee with a Cop Coming Up on Saturday
Chief Paul Francis would like to remind the community that the Essex Police Department will host a combination Stuff-a-Cruiser and Coffee with a Cop event on Saturday, Dec. 17, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in front of the Public Safety Building at 11 John Wise Ave. Community members are invited to come have a coffee and conversation with Essex Police Officers, who will also be collecting new, unwrapped toys for families in need. Chief Francis would also like to remind the community that Sen. Bruce Tarr, a longtime supporter of Essex Police, is holding his annual North Shore Toy
Read moreEssex Police Department Invites Community to Combination Stuff-a-Cruiser and Coffee with a Cop Event
Chief of Police Paul Francis and the Essex Police Department would like to invite the community to have Coffee with a Cop and to help the Department stuff a police cruiser with toys for donation to local toy drives. WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 17, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. WHERE: In front of the Public Safety Building, 11 John Wise Ave. WHAT: The Essex Police Department will combine a Stuff-a-Cruiser event with a Coffee with a Cop event, giving residents a chance to have a coffee and chat with police while also contributing to a merry Christmas for families in
Read more*UPDATE* Essex Police and Fire Departments and Law Enforcement Partners Secure Aging Mortar Shell Found in Home
Police Chief Paul Francis reports that the Essex Police and Fire Departments, working in collaboration with law enforcement partners, safely responded to the discovery of a potentially explosive mortar shell in a home Monday. On Monday, Sept. 19, at approximately 10:30 a.m., Essex Police and Fire were notified that a cleaning crew discovered what appeared to be an explosive shell inside a home at the southern end of Wood Drive, near Chebacco Lake. Essex Police and Fire requested assistance from the Massachusetts State Police Bomb Squad, evacuated approximately six homes in the area around the home, and kept boaters and
Read moreEssex Police Department Alerts Community to Opening of Temporary Bridge Downtown, Closure of Existing Bridge
Chief Paul Francis and the Essex Police Department would like to inform the community that the Massachusetts Department of Transportation intends to open a new temporary bridge over the Essex River downtown on Tuesday, July 12, and that the old bridge over the river will close a short time later. In the event of unforeseen delays, the new bridge will open and the old bridge will be closed on Wednesday, July 13. The temporary bridge was built by MassDOT to carry traffic over the river as the existing bridge that carries Main Street/Route 133 over the river is removed and
Read moreEssex Police Department Alerts Community to Planned Power Outage
Chief Paul Francis and the Essex Police Department would like to inform the community that about 500 National Grid customers in Essex will be affected by a planned power outage next week. In order to accommodate ongoing bridge work on Main Street, National Grid will be working to move utilities to a temporary construction location. In order to do that safely, the company will need to temporarily disconnect the electrical service of approximately 500 customers along route 133 in Essex. This pre-planned outage is scheduled to take place on Thursday, July 14, 2022, with a rain date of Monday, July 18,
Read moreEssex Police Department To Participate in Relationship Building Event with Local Youth
Chief Paul Francis is pleased to report that Officer James Romeos will represent the Essex Police Department in the inaugural Amazing Race — a team building competition designed to build relationships between law enforcement and youth. Organized by Project Adventure, an organization that specializes in providing experiential education and adventure-based learning experiences for individuals, schools and other organizations, the Amazing Race will be held on Saturday, April 30, at Project Adventure’s facilities at 719 Cabot St., Beverly. Over 100 youth between ages 6 and 12 are expected to participate, as are over 50 law enforcement officers from around the North
Read moreEssex Police Department Earns Accreditation from Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission
Chief Paul Francis is proud to announce that the Essex Police Department earned accreditation from the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission. The years-long, self-initiated process includes rigorous independent review and evaluation by MPAC of the department’s compliance with 257 mandatory standards and 125 optional standards. To achieve accreditation status, the department must meet all applicable mandatory standards as well as 55 percent of the optional standards. An assessment team from MPAC visited the department in October of 2021, reviewing management, operations, technical support activities, policies, emergency response planning, training, communications, facilities, equipment, evidence handling, use of force, vehicular pursuit policies, prisoner
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