National Drug Take Back Day, October 29th, 2011

The Amherst Police and Amherst Health Department, in partnership with the Hampshire/Franklin TRIAD program, Northwestern District Attorney’s Office, Hampshire and Franklin County Sheriff’s Department, and a broad range of community partners are working with the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and have a announced a Prescription Drug Take Back Day scheduled for Saturday, October 29, 2011.The Amherst site, is at the Wildwood School, 71 Strong Street.

More than seven million Americans currently abuse prescription drugs, according to a national survey by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration. Every day, some 2,500 teenagers use prescription drugs to get high for the first time. Most of the prescription drugs being abused are obtained from family and friends, sometimes from their medicine cabinets without their knowledge.

Communities from Amherst to Athol are participating, with central drop-off points in Northampton and Greenfield, Saturday, October 29, 2011 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Drugs collected at the central drop-off points will be picked up by members of the National Guard to be deposited at a DEA facility for destruction.

According to the Office of Northwestern District Attorney David E. Sullivan, at the last Take Back Day, on April 30, more than 376,593 pounds (188 tons) of unwanted or expired medications were collected at 5,361 take-back sites in all 50 states. This was 55 percent more than the 242,000 pounds (121 tons) collected on the first Take Back Day in September, 2010. In New England, Massachusetts led the way, with some 12,354 pounds collected.

You can bring your prescription and non-prescription medication to the drop off site located closest to your community. It is anonymous and the pills can be in their original containers. We cannot accept: needles, syringes, lancets, thermometers, IV bags, chemo drugs or liquids of any type. Go to northwesternda.org for a list of other drop off locations within Hampshire and Franklin County

For more information, contact Office Jamie Reardon at 413-259-3012.

Bank Robbery Suspects Apprehended

On September 20, 2011 at approximately 11:50AM, several officers from the Amherst Police Department responded to the Northampton Cooperative Bank located at 390 College Street for a reported robbery. Investigators have learned that the suspect entered the bank and presented a note demanding money. An undisclosed sum of money was realized and the suspect fled the bank. The suspect was observed fleeing the area in a vehicle.

The vehicle was spotted a short time later by a Belchertown Police officer and stopped. The ensuing investigation revealed that this was the vehicle used in the commission of the robbery and the suspects in the vehicle were placed under arrest.

The suspect that entered the bank was identified as:

Jamie P. Comeau, Age 36
75 Oak Street #2
Gardner, MA 01440
Charges: Unarmed Robbery

The two accomplices arrested in the vehicle have been identified as:


Kimberly J. Choquette, Age 29
212 Walnut Street #1
Athol, MA 01331
Charges: Unarmed Robbery
Default Warrant, Failure to Appear (Athol District Court)

Jason S. Comeau, Age 37
688 West Royalston Road
Athol, MA 01331
Charges: Unarmed Robbery

No weapon was displayed and no injuries were reported in the bank. All three suspects were held at the Hampshire County House of Corrections in lieu of $25,000 cash bail. All three were arraigned at the Eastern Hampshire District Court Wednesday morning.

This investigation is ongoing.

Officer Carlos M. Gutierrez Returns from Deployment

Officer Carlos M. Gutierrez, a member of the Amherst Police Department since 2008, has returned from his military deployment in Afghanistan. Officer Gutierrez was deployed in August 2010 with his Massachusetts Army National Guard Unit. Officer Gutierrez is a member of the Alpha Co. 1-181 Infantry based out of Agawam, Massachusetts. He currently holds the rank of Sergeant and served as a Team Leader. This was his fourth deployment, which includes his two deployments while serving in the United States Marine Corps between 1998 and 2002.

“The entire Amherst Police Department family is very thankful that Carlos has made it home safely from Afghanistan.” said Amherst Chief of Police Scott P. Livingstone. “Carlos is a dedicated Amherst police officer, and I am confident that he was an important asset to his military unit in Afghanistan. The Amherst community is fortunate to have a police officer of his caliber.

Officer Gutierrez is a 1998 graduate of Charles H. McCann Technical High School, North Adams, MA. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1998 and concluded his active duty status in 2002. He is a 2006 graduate of Southern Vermont College, Bennington, VT, where he obtained his Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice. Officer Gutierrez joined the Massachusetts Army National Guard in May of 2006. Officer Gutierrez currently resides in Granby with this wife Jessica.

Officer Gutierrez graduated from the 44th Municipal Police Officers Training Academy in Springfield and is assigned to the patrol division and bicycle patrol. He returns to work on September 19, 2011 and after a two week re-integration period, Officer Gutierrez will resume his patrol duties.

Child Passenger Car Seat Installations

The Amherst Police Department is committed to the safety of our children. Motor vehicle crashes pose a tremendous risk for children. When properly installed, child safety seats reduce the risk of death in a motor vehicle crash by 71% for infants and 54% for toddlers. Safety belts reduce the risk of death or serious injury in a motor vehicle crash by up to 50%. This is where the Amherst Police Department can help.

The Amherst Police Department conducts Child Passenger Car Seat Inspections on the 3rd Saturday of each month. The next schedule inspection day is Saturday, September 17, 2011, by appointment only. Open to all community members, our certified technicians will thoroughly inspect child passenger car seats for wear and effectiveness and install them properly to assure the safest ride for our children. To schedule a 30 minute appointment either e-mail the Amherst Police Department or call 413-259-3355.

The Amherst Police Department has received funding from the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security Highway Safety Division for the equipment necessary to complete the inspections and installations. Questions regarding this program can be forwarded to Officer Felipe Feliciano at (413) 259-3000

North Amherst Officers to Hold Weekly Office Hours Throughout Fall Semester

Amherst Police Officers assigned to Northwest Amherst, which encompasses the North Pleasant St. corridor from the Newman Catholic Center to the Sunderland town line will be holding weekly office hours at both Townehouse and Puffton Village apartments. 

During this time, officers will be available to answer any questions one might have regarding living in Amherst.  Officers will be present at each of the complex's offices on the following dates and times through the end of September.  Note: the October schedule will be posted at the end of September.

September 6th 12p-1p @ Puffton Village
September 8th 7p-8p  @ Townehouse
September 15th 7p-8p @ Puffton Village
September 20th 1p-2p @ Townehouse

For more information, please call the Amherst Police Department @ 413-259-3000 or feel free to email any of the following officers:

8a-4p shift:
Officer William Laramee
Officer Jamie Reardon

4p-12a shift:
Officer Linda Newcomb
Officer Scott Thurston

Mid-8a shift:
Officer Josh Harris
Officer Scott Soverino

Amherst Police Receive Massachusetts Law Enforcement Challenge Award for Traffic Safety

The Amherst Police Department was presented an Award of Excellence in the Gold Category for municipal police departments that participated in the annual Massachusetts Law Enforcement Challenge. The Challenge is a joint initiative supported by the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association (MCOPA) and the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS).

The department was recognized along with the Massachusetts State Police and 19 other police agencies from across the state at a ceremony held on August 31, 2011, in Devens, MA. This is the fourth year the department has been recognized by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security for its traffic safety efforts having received the first place award in 2010 based on the department’s 2009 data.

The Massachusetts Law Enforcement Challenge is a highly competitive award program that recognizes police departments statewide for their traffic safety efforts to reduce motor vehicle-related fatalities, injuries and economic loss in communities by combining traffic enforcement with public information and education. The Massachusetts Law Enforcement Challenge (MLEC) is modeled after the National Law Enforcement Challenge presented annually by the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP).

The Amherst Police Department was judged in six separate categories: Policy and Guidelines, Officer Training, Incentives and Recognition, Public Education and Information, Enforcement Activity and Effectiveness of Effort. This year’s award is based on the department’s 2010 data and accomplishments.

In 2010, officers from the Amherst Police Department arrested 110 individuals for Operating under the Influence, issued 724 citations for speeding, and issued 130 seatbelt violations, six of which involved child safety seat violations. In the same year, the department investigated 748 motor vehicle crashes, 108 of which resulted in personal injury. In 2010, the department did not investigate one fatal motor vehicle collision, which can be attributed to our officers’ proactive enforcement efforts.

For additional information about this award or the department’s educational or enforcement efforts please contact Lieutenant William Menard at (413) 259-3167 or Officer Scott Gallagher at (413) 259-3000.

Photographed, left to right
Patrolman Scott E. Gallagher
Chief Scott P. Livingstone
Phil Weiser, Region 1 Administrator, NHTSA
Mary Elizabeth Heffernan, Secretary, EOPSS
Dan Zivkovich, MPTC Executive Director
Lieutenant William N. Menard
Captain Christopher G. Pronovost