Press Releases
Date:
Contact: Robert F. Small, Chief of Police
Gun Locks Available To Rochester Residents
The Rochester Police Department has cable-style gun locks available to Rochester residents at no charge. They are available for pick up at the station 24/7.
Date: March 31, 2020
Contact: Robert F. Small, Chief of Police
Combative Man Arrested in Rochester Is Moved to Bridgewater State Correctional Facility
On the morning of 3/31/2020, officers Brenden Emberg and Christopher Zutaut responded to a noise disturbance call. After initially resolving the issue, they were dispatched back because the original subject had violated probation by cutting off his ankle monitoring device after the officers left.
He was subsequently arrested and brought to the Rochester Police Department. The subject has a history of violence and mental health issues and soon became extremely combative. Due to the Covid-19 crisis, many facilities are closed which created more urgency and fewer options.
The Plymouth County Sheriff's Department provided a team equipped for extraction of violent offenders and removed the man from his jail cell without injuries to him or any officers. He was then transported to the Bridgewater State Correctional Facility.
Date: October 12, 2018
Contact: Robert F. Small, Chief of Police
Fatal Traffic Collision in Rochester
A New Bedford man died in a traffic collision at the intersection of North Avenue and Braley Hill Road (Rt. 105) in Rochester Saturday afternoon. On October 6, 2016 at approximately 2:30 PM, officers were dispatched to the intersection for a report of a crash between a scooter and a pickup truck.
The operator of the scooter was transported by Rochester EMS to Tobey Hospital where he was pronounced deceased. The operator of the pickup truck was not injured. At this time no charges have been filed. The investigation remains active with both Rochester Police and the Massachusetts State Police reconstruction team.
Date: October 3, 2018
Contact: Robert F. Small, Chief of Police
Plymouth County Outreach to Receive $500,000 Federal Grant
The Police Chiefs of Plymouth County are pleased to announce that Plymouth County Outreach (PCO) has been awarded a federal grant that will significantly improve the services provided by the group in the coming years.
PCO will receive the $496,650 grant as part of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) Program through the U.S. Department of Justice.
The award is among the first major federal funding grants to go toward substance use disorder treatment and recovery legislation, with the aim of addressing the ongoing opioid epidemic.
"We are incredibly fortunate to have been selected by the DOJ for the CARA grant and these funds will hopefully go a long way toward helping our Plymouth County residents who have been impacted by the opioid crisis and their families," East Bridgewater Police Chief Scott Allen said.
The funds, which will be dispersed over the next two years, will allow PCO to hire two full-time staff members, a Project Coordinator and an Operations Supervisor. Those positions will allow PCO to offer better resources to individuals who are in need of treatment in a more streamlined and effective fashion.
"We will be looking to hire two full-time staff members who are dedicated to working with Plymouth County residents each and every day and can represent Plymouth County Outreach in all of our communities," Middleborough Police Chief Joseph Perkins said.
In addition, the money will allow PCO to improve their Critical Incident Management System database, which tracks the number of overdoses in the region and allows for research and detailed analysis of the data collected to be studied by PCO's treatment and healthcare partners.
"In receiving this grant from the federal government this shows, I believe, that our program and approach is on the forefront of combining the efforts of law enforcement, healthcare providers and treatment professionals in providing care to those opioid users in our communities who are in need," Plymouth Police Chief Michael Botieri said.
In addition to Plymouth County Outreach, 11 other Massachusetts programs will receive a total of $8.4 million in grant funding:
- Plymouth County District Attorney's Office awarded $541,300
- Middlesex District Attorney's Office awarded one grant of $360,000 and one of $500,000
- Boston Police Department awarded $305,362
- City of Holyoke Police Department awarded $448,025
- Massachusetts Administrative Office of the Trial Court awarded $1.5 million
- Advocates for Human Potential awarded $1.55 million
- City of Worcester awarded $744,668
- Franklin County Sheriff's Office awarded $1 million
- LUK Crisis Center awarded $500,000
"In 2017, over 2,000 Massachusetts residents died from drug overdoses," said United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling. "The opioid crisis is an unprecedented public health crisis in the United States, but we are committed to the President's plan to end the epidemic through prevention, treatment and enforcement. With over $8 million in federal grant funding, programs in Massachusetts can expand to serve larger populations, increase services, and support those who are most impacted by this deadly epidemic. I applaud the grant recipients for their commitment to serve their communities in this way."
Plymouth County Outreach is an opioid prevention and recovery coalition made up of 27 municipal police departments in Plymouth County, along with the Bridgewater State University Police. The chiefs have partnered with the offices of District Attorney Timothy Cruz and Sheriff Joseph McDonald to take a multi-jurisdictional approach to dealing with the opioid epidemic.
Today, several member chiefs met this morning to discuss the announcement of the grant.
"The work being done by our partners in law enforcement and the treatment and healthcare industries is vital to combating this deadly epidemic. In Plymouth County and everywhere else, one overdose death is one too many," Hanover Police Chief Walter Sweeney said.
* * * * *
About Plymouth County Outreach: Plymouth County Outreach is a collaborative of police departments throughout Plymouth County led by the following chiefs: Abington Chief David Majenski, Bridgewater Chief Christopher Delmonte, Bridgewater State University Chief David Tillinghast, Brockton Chief John Crowley, Brockton Police Lt. Richard Linehan, Carver Chief Marc Duphily, Duxbury Chief Matthew Clancy, East Bridgewater Chief Scott Allen, Halifax Chief Ted Broderick, Hanover Chief Walter Sweeney, Hanson Chief Michael Miksch, Hingham Chief Glenn Olsson, Hull Chief John Dunn, Kingston Chief Maurice Splaine, Lakeville Chief Frank Alvihiera, Marion Chief John Garcia, Marshfield Chief Phillip Tavares, Mattapoisett Chief Mary Lyons, Middleboro Chief Joseph Perkins, Norwell Chief Ted Ross, Pembroke Chief Richard Wall, Plymouth Chief Michael Botieri, Plympton Chief Patrick Dillon, Rochester Chief Robert Small, Rockland Chief John Llewellyn, Scituate Chief Michael Stewart, Wareham Chief John Walcek, West Bridgewater Chief Victor Flaherty and Whitman Chief Scott D. Benton.
Date: June 25, 2018
Contact: Robert F. Small, Chief of Police
Rochester Police Entrance Exam To Be Held October 27, 2018
The Rochester Police Department in conjunction with Police Exam Solutions has scheduled an Entrance Exam for the Rochester Police Department on October 27, 2018.
The Rochester Police Department employs 11 full time officers, 5 part time officers and a number of reserve officers serving a population of approximately 5,500 residents. The department will be holding an entrance exam to fill part time openings now and full time positions in the future.
Because of the small size of the department, officers handle many of their own cases from start to finish. This allows officers the opportunity to participate in investigations, write and serve warrants, and make arrests as a result of their own work.
Rochester police officers also have the opportunity to participate on a number of the departments specialized units such as bike patrol and ATV patrol as well as being able to join specialized units such as the dive team, SWAT team, and search and rescue team attached to the Southeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council (SEMLEC).
Details and eligibility requirements are provided on the Police Exam Solutions website www.policeexamsolutions.com. Any questions are to be directed to the testing company through the "contact us" section of their website. This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Any calls made directly to the police department or Police Exam Solutions, may disqualify you from being hired.
Perhaps you know someone who is thinking of getting involved in law enforcement. This is a great opportunity for them to participate in the entry level testing process and possibly earn a career in law enforcement.
If you or anyone you know would like further information on this upcoming exam, please visit policeexamsolutions.com. All registrations must be done online.
Date: May 7, 2018
Contact: Robert F. Small, Chief of Police
Rochester Teacher Arrested for Inappropriate Contact With Students
On May 3, 2018, the Rochester Police Department was asked to respond to the Rochester Memorial School. Administrators at the school notified officers of allegations that had been made by students. The allegations were that a teacher in the school had inappropriate physical contact with students.
As a result of their investigation, Rochester Police sought and obtained an arrest warrant on Friday afternoon (5/4/18). The warrant charges James Sullivan 35, of Fairhaven, with one count of Assault and Battery and one count of Indecent Assault and Battery of a Child Under 14.
Mr. Sullivan turned himself in to police on Saturday and was arrested. He was released on $10,000 cash bail and scheduled for arraignment on Monday morning at Wareham District Court.
Further inquiries regarding continued progress of the case should be directed to the Plymouth County District Attorney's Office.
Date: May 7, 2018
Contact: Robert F. Small, Chief of Police
Rochester Police Investigating Fatal Crash
At approximately 10:30 PM on May 5, 2018, Rochester Police received a call reporting that a Jeep had overturned near a sand pit located at 259 New Bedford Road. The caller also reported that a man was pinned beneath the vehicle.
Officers arrived and found several parties attempting to upright the vehicle owned by Leigh Savery 30, of North Dartmouth. The victim, Rayce Darby 23, of Flint MI, was trapped beneath the vehicle. He was declared deceased at the scene.
No charges have been filed at this time. Rochester Police are continuing to investigate the crash with the assistance of the Massachusetts State Police, Environmental Police, and the Coroner's office.
Rochester MA Police Department recent press releases