Amherst Police Online Reports

The Amherst Police Department would like to remind community members that the Amherst Police Department has been accepting online criminal report filings since April of 2008.

Online incident filing was identified as a way citizens could report minor incidents and complaints without having a police officer respond. This allows officers to be available to investigate more serious incidents. Citizens are reminded to call 911 when there is an emergency.

When a citizen files a report online, he or she is immediately e-mailed a temporary copy of the report. Within 24-48 hours this temporary report is reviewed by a police officer and approved for download into our records management system. At that time, the citizen is then emailed, free of charge, the approved report for their records or insurance needs. The online reporting system is easy to use and can be accessed via our website.

Reports currently being accepted online include: larcenies, hit and run motor vehicle crashes, vehicle burglaries, vandalisms, annoying/harassing phone calls, lost property, traffic complaints, anonymous crime tips, and homeland security tips. The types of reports that will be accepted online are continually being expanded. Any criminal incident that has a suspect or possible evidence cannot be reported online.

Questions regarding this system can be forwarded to Lt. Jerry Millar at 413-259-3276 or Sgt. Todd Lang at or 259-3160.

National Prescription Take Back Day

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 working with the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) are pleased to announce a Prescription Drug Take Back Day scheduled for Saturday, April 28, 2012. The Amherst location will be at the Wildwood School, 71 Strong Street, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

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, April 28, 2012 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 and deposited at a DEA facility for destruction.

According to the Office of Northwestern District Attorney David E. Sullivan, at the Take Back Day held on April 30, 2011, more than 376,593 pounds (188 tons) of unwanted or expired medications were collected at 5,361 take-back sites throughout all 50 states. This represents an increase of more than 55% from the 242,000 pounds (121 tons) collected on the first Take Back Day that took place in September, 2010. In New England, Massachusetts led the way, with some 12,354 pounds collected.

The public is encouraged to bring prescription and non-prescription medication to the drop off site located closest to their community. It is anonymous and the pills can remain their original containers. We cannot accept: needles, syringes, lancets, thermometers, IV bags, chemo drugs or liquids of any type.

To obtain a complete list of drop off locations within Hampshire and Franklin County go to northwesternda.org.

For additional information, contact Captain Jennifer A. Gundersen at 413-259-3012 or via email.gundersenj@amherstma.gov

The Amherst Police Department Receives $10,000 Underage Alcohol Enforcement Award

The Amherst Police Department was awarded $10,000 in grant funding as part of the 2012 Underage Alcohol Enforcement Grant Program from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS). This program provides overtime funds for enforcement of underage alcohol laws through activities such as compliance checks at liquor serving establishments, party patrols, surveillance patrols, and Cops in Shops.

The Amherst Police Department intends to use this funding to assign extra patrols through the spring to enforce the open container of alcohol bylaw and underage drinking laws.

During Fiscal Year 2011, Amherst Police Officers charged 788 persons with alcohol related offenses, which included 368 persons with being minors in possession of alcohol and 23 with possession of false identification. The Amherst Police Department has found that strict enforcement of liquor law violations has assisted in improving the quality of living for those who reside in the center business district and in areas which are densely populated with college students. For additional information on these increased enforcement efforts, please contact Captain Jennifer Gundersen via email or at (413) 259-3010.

For additional information on impaired driving or this grant program, check out the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security's Highway Safety Division website .

Take the No Text Pledge

The Amherst Police Department and Amherst High School have teamed up to educate young drivers on the dangers of distracted driving. On March 13th , Amherst Police and Amherst High Students will be outside the cafeteria during lunch period asking student drivers to “Take the Pledge”. The Amherst Police will also have pamphlets and other literature on hand for students to take home. This voluntary pledge asks drivers to do 3 simple things:

1. Protect lives by never texting or talking on the phone while driving
2. Be a good passenger and speak out if the driver of their car is distracted.
3. Encourage their friends and family to drive phone free.

Under the new safe driving laws, law enforcement can pull over any driver suspected of using a mobile electronic devise for texting or accessing the Internet. First time offenders are subject to a $100 fine. Junior operators observed using a cell phone can also be cited and subject to a $100 fine and the loss of their license for 60 days. Teen offenders will also be required to take a driver retraining course through the National Safety Council.

Students taking the pledge will receive a coupon for use at four local businesses. The Amherst Police Department would like to thank White Hut, Primo Pizzeria Too, Antonio’s Pizza and Cheryl Nina Salon and Day Spa for their participation in this initiative.

“As first responders we see what dangers distracted driving causes” says Amherst Police Chief Scott P. Livingstone. “Please consider the choice you make the next time you drive”. The Amherst Police Department Issues a Reminder to the Public: One text or call could WRECK it all.
For more information visit; www.amherstma.gov; http://www.distraction.gov/ or www.mass.gov/highwaysafety or call Sergeant Todd Lang at (413) 259-3000.

Mustache March is Here!

The St. Baldrick's Foundation is a volunteer-driven charity committed to funding the most promising research to find cures for childhood cancers and give survivors long and healthy lives.

Traditionally, participants in the charity have their heads shaved to help raise awareness for the foundation. However, as our officers already have such short hair, they are once again growing mustaches to help raise money.

Our Officers have already met their fundraising goal, but there truly are no limits in support of this cause.

The event is taking place on March 25, 2012 at Rafters Sports Bar on University Drive in Amherst. If you are interested in donating to our team, please follow this link. 

Put a Dent in Identity Theft: Free Community Shred Event

The Amherst TRIAD/ “Seniors and Law Enforcement Together” (SALT) Council, in partnership with the Amherst Police Department, Office of District Attorney David E. Sullivan, Hampshire County Sheriff’s Office, Pro-Shred, Inc. and PeoplesBank are sponsoring a “Community Shred Event” to be held on Saturday, June 2nd, 2012 from 9:00 A.M. to 12:00 P.M., IN THE PARKING LOT of PEOPLESBANK, 56 AMITY STREET, AMHERST, MA. This three (3) hour event will be open to all Hampshire County community members. Participation is limited to residential shredding only and not open to businesses.

Consumer fraud and identity theft are on the rise. As older adults are often the targeted victims of identity theft, the partners in this project want to raise awareness and promote prevention. We hope that the “Community Shred Event” will provide the community with a responsible way to dispose of sensitive documents. You are welcome to bring as many boxes of documents as you would like. Documents such as old bills, credit card information, cancelled checks or any materials that may have your identifying information can be shredded. All documents will be shredded on site.

PROSHRED ®, Inc. of Wilbraham is donating their services. They are a document destruction company solely dedicated to on-site paper shredding, the most secure, convenient and cost-effective method for destroying and recycling confidential documents and materials.

Please join us in putting a dent in identify theft! For further information you can contact Chris Geffin at the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office, 413-586-9225 or Captain Jennifer Gundersen at the Amherst Police Department 413-259-3012.