Police Citizens' Alerts
COMMUNITY TRAFFIC INITIATIVE
The Topsfield Police Department recently implemented a Traffic Division.
This division will be lead by Sgt. Jack Hayward who will over see the
planning, implementation and success of multiple traffic related projects.
Sgt. J. Hayward will be assisted by Patrolman Neal Hovey and Michael Balsley.
The main focus of the Traffic Division is to gain voluntary compliance
of all motor vehicle laws from motorists who travel throughout Topsfield.
This model will be based on the “Three E’s” Enforcement,
Engineering and Education.
In 2009 the Topsfield Police Department performed 1,855 motor vehicle
stops for various violations of the law and responded to 174 motor vehicle
crashes. With the creation of this new division, it is our goal to better
allocate the departments resources to combat the following issues:
-Speeding vehicles in neighborhoods
-Analyze crash data to reduce the number of crashes
-Unnecessary commercial vehicle traffic in neighborhoods
-Assist neighborhoods with any traffic related complaints or ideas
After the first of the year, the Traffic Division will be hosting neighborhood
meetings at the Town Library to further explain some of our ideas, monitoring
equipment and recent traffic statistic’s that have been gathered.
We are also looking for the community’s ideas, concerns and issues
so we can create safer roadways within our town by identifying problems
and solutions to better enhance the quality of life for our citizens.
If you are interested in attending the neighborhood traffic meetings,
assisting us in combating our traffic issues or you have any issues that
you see or believe exist, we would like to hear about them. Please email
Chief Evan Haglund at Topsfield101@verizonesg.net.
We will keep you updated as to the scheduling of our neighborhood traffic
meetings and as to the progress of the traffic division. In closing, the
Topsfield Police Department would like to wish you a Safe and Happy Holiday
season.
Chief Haglund
Topsfield Police Dept.
topsfield101@verizonesg.net
OnTuesday morning, NOVEMBER 29at approx. 1:25 am,officers from theTopsfield POLICE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED TO AN ATTEMPTED HOUSE BREAK ON GAIL ST. THE HOMEOWNERS WERE AWAKENED BY THE SOUND OF BREAKING GLASS. THE SUSPECT ATTEMPTED ENTRY BY THROWING A LANDSCAPE PAVER THROUGH A GLASS DOOR LEADING INTO THE RESIDENCE. WITH ASSISTANCE FROM MASSACHUSETTS STATE POLICE K-9 AND BOXFORD POLICE A TRACK WAS COMPLETED COVERING APPROX. ONE MILE, LEADING TO THE AREA OF WASHINGTON ST. AND MAIN ST.. THE TRACK WAS LOST IN THE AREA OF MAIN ST. AND NORMANDY ROW. A RESIDENT OF GAIL CIRCLE LATER REPORTED THAT SHE HAD HEARD SOMEONE ON HER PORCH PRIOR TO THE REPORTED HOUSE BREAK. WHILE CONDUCTING THE TRACK OFFICERS WERE LED AROUND SEVERAL RESIDENCES ON GAIL ST. AND MAIN ST.. ALL RESIDENTS ARE REMINDED TO KEEP THEIR DOORS LOCKED AND TO IMMEDIATELY REPORT ANY SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY OR NOISES TO THE TOPSFIELD POLICE. DEPARTMENT. AT THIS TIME THE SUSPECT REMAINS AT LARGE AND THE CASE REMAINS UNDER INVESTIGATION.
Chief Evan Haglund
Topsfield Police Dept.
210 Boston Street
Topsfield, Ma. 01983
The Topsfield Police Department is proud to announce our partnership with NIXLE Corporation for community notifications. NIXLE Corporation’s vast secure community notification system will allow citizens to join the public network and receive community alerts and advisories direct to their mobile phone or computer through text messaging or email at no cost to the Town or subscriber.
This is an improvement over the department’s present distribution process for our very popular Citizen Information Alerts. It will allow alerts or advisories to be sent from the scene of any incident in real time without delays, keeping the public informed while allowing citizens to sign up for notifications from area participating agencies as well.
Go to www.topsfieldpolice.com and click on the NIXLE sign up icon.
Thank you for participating in our Citizen Information Alerts.
Chief Evan E.J. Haglund
Topsfield Police Dept.
978-887-6533
topsfield101@verizonesg.net
Press Release: November 17, 2011
On November 17, 2011 at approximately 8:50 am, Officers from the Topsfield Police Department with assistance from Peabody Police and Massachusetts State Police K-9 units arrested Matthew T. Hames, Age 29, Peabody, Ma. at a residence on MacArthur Circle in Peabody.
Mr. Hames was wanted by Topsfield Police for allegedly breaking into a residence on High Street in Topsfield on November 8th 2011. Where he allegedly fled from the residence by jumping out of a second story window after the homeowner came home interrupting the burglary.
Mr. Hames was charged by Topsfield Police with Breaking and Entering to a residence in the daytime (Felony). He was also arrested on outstanding warrants for Motor vehicle offenses and Possession of Class A narcotics.He is scheduled to be arraigned later today in Ipswich District Court, Newburyport on all charges and warrants.
The case remains under investigation.
Chief Evan E.J. Haglund
Topsfield Police Department
Press Release: May 20, 2011
Topsfield Officer recognized for impaired driver arrests.
On May 18 th 2011, Officer Shawn Frost of the Topsfield Police Department was recognized by the organization Mothers Against Drunk Driving at their yearly awards banquet held in Devens Ma., for his efforts at reducing the number of impaired drivers operating upon our roadways.
The Topsfield Police Department has prioritized the safety of our citizens and travelers who utilize our roadways with a zero tolerance policy toward impaired drivers.
Officer Frost over the past four years has set an example for all police officers dedicating his efforts to ensure the safety of our roadways by actively arresting motor vehicle offenders who drive impaired.
Officer Frost is responsible for 64 out of 133, or 48 % of the impaired driver arrests by the Topsfield Police Department.
The night before the awards, Off. Frost was responsible for the arrest of an impaired driver after the driver damage his own vehicle by blowing out both rear tires after striking a curb then a parked car on Main Street in Topsfield. Officer Frost after a low speed pursuit and with the assistance of the Massachusetts State Police ultimately forced the vehicle to a stop on Rt-1 in Danvers. The operator of the vehicle was charged with a subsequent OUI as well as additional charges.
All of us at the Topsfield Police Department are very proud of Off. Frosts achievement and well deserved recognition and remind those who travel our roads to do so in a safe and responsible manner .
Press Release : February 17, 2011
On February 15, 2011 Topsfield Police officers with the assistance of Peabody and Danvers police detectives, executed a search warrant to a residence on Willowbrae Dr in Peabody, Ma.
Officers located narcotics, pills, marijuana, jewelry, computers and other electronic devices.
Taken into custody at the scene was a Robert Petrelis, age 30. Mr. Petrelis was charged with Felony Possession of a class A, B and D substance with intent to distribute.
Officers were following through with information from a previous investigation that led to the search.
Mr. Petrelis will be arraigned on the above charges in Peabody Court.
The case remains under investigation.
The Topsfield Police Department wishes to thank the assisting agencies and officers who participated.
Topsfield: Det.Sgt. Gary Hayward, Officers John Hayward, Glenn Walker, James Dunn
Peabody: Detectives Ralph Scopa, Eric Ricci, Robert Church
Danvers: Det. Sgt. William Carlton
Topsfield Police Citizens Information Alert:: February 7, 2011
On Friday February 4, 2011 at approximately 1:25 pm Topsfield Police Detectives Sgt. Gary Hayward and Off. Steven Weir interrupted a burglary in progress to a residence on Wenham Rd. in Topsfield, Ma.
The detectives were following up on a previous reported burglary at the residence that had occurred a week prior, when they observed subject inside of the residence.
Arrested at the scene was a Michael Corning, age 28 of, Danvers Ma. Further investigation revealed that the suspect had allegedly unlawfully entered the residence twice before, taking jewelry and electronic items.
Using information received from the investigation, Topsfield and Danvers police detectives executed a search of a residence in Danvers, Ma., where electronic items and additional evidence was recovered that were allegedly linked to the previous burglaries in Topsfield as well as two unsolved burglaries in Danvers.
Mr. Corning was charged with three counts of Breaking and Entering in the day time (Felony) and three counts of receiving stolen property (Felony). He is to be arraigned in Ipswich District Court on Tuesday February 8, 2011.
The case remains under investigation
See below for a list of prevention tips.
* Be on the alert for suspicious
vehicles in your neighborhood.
* DO NOT leave your ignition keys in your vehicle.
* Lock your vehicle.
* Remove all valuables from your vehicle when parked for the night.
* Do not leave your GPS system inside of the vehicle.
* Clean your windshield to remove the suction cup marks from your windshield
caused by the GPS mount.
These marks are a dead giveaway to thieves that you use a GPS system.
* Park your car in the garage or if outdoors park under a motion sensor
light.
* Keep an eye on your neighbors property as well, protect each other.
The subjects committing these crimes will be driving around casing the
area. When they see a vehicle they want, they will drop off a passenger
who then commits the theft.
Contact the Police Department immediately should you see or hear anything
suspicious or out of the ordinary. Do not hesitate to call.
Let's all work together to keep our community safe.