NBPD Crime Report
Meet the new Chief: Paul Oliveira
Chief was appointed to his role in 2021. He has served the City of New Bedford for nearly 30 years and most recently served as Deputy Chief of Police from 2016 until his appointment. Having grown up in the city, Chief Oliveira started his career as a uniform patrol officer in 1992, and then transferred…
Read More‘Filled with optimism’: New Bedford Police Chief Paul Oliveira lays out goals for 2022
By Linda Roy of the Standard Times NEW BEDFORD — “It takes more courage than ever to wear this badge,” was one of the first statements Police Chief Paul Oliveira made this summer when he took over the reins of the New Bedford Police Department. He replaced Police Chief Joseph Cordeiro, who retired in April. Set to…
Read MoreNBPD trains Officers on updated use of force policies, provides enhanced communications training and investigates body cameras
NEW BEDFORD-Earlier this year the New Bedford Police Dept. embarked on making substantial changes to its “use of force” policies based on recommendations from Mayor Jon Mitchell’s Commission to Review Use of Force Policies at the NBPD in the wake of the 2020 death of George Floyd. Today, Chief Paul Oliveira is announcing that all…
Read MoreNBPD Acting Deputy Chief Adelino Sousa named to permanent role
NEW BEDFORD-Acting Deputy Chief Adelino Sousa has been named permanent Deputy Chief of the New Bedford Police Dept. Deputy Chief Sousa has been the “acting” Deputy Chief since April. Deputy Chief Sousa jointed the NBPD in 1994, became part of the Narcotics Division in 2000. He was assigned to the Drug Enforcement Administration Task Force…
Read MoreSRO Shane Harris Recognized by National Association of School Resource Officers
NBPD School Resource Officer Shane Harris is being honored with the prestigious Regional Exceptional Service Award for the New England Region by the National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO). The Exceptional Service Award is presented to select individuals for their continuous and sustained service to their school community above and beyond that expected of…
Read MoreIn Memory of Sgt. Michael Cassidy
Sgt. Mike Cassidy passed away April 28, 2021 after valiant battle with COVID-19. This was a tremendous loss to our department and to the City of New Bedford. Sgt. Cassidy was a proud US Marine and served this city with his whole heart. He was the loving husband of Deborah A. (Fontaine) Cassidy and father…
Read MoreNBPD Responds to Citizens for Juvenile Justice Report
We have been asked about the Citizens for Juvenile Justice report regarding the New Bedford Police Department. The department takes seriously any allegation of disparate treatment by law enforcement, and our mission is to ensure community policing that keeps all residents and neighborhoods safe. The methodology used by the organization is deeply concerning and displays…
Read MoreCrime rate drops 38% in New Bedford in past decade, on trend to dip further in 2020; violent crimes decreased by 43%, property crimes decreased by 37%
NEW BEDFORD— The city’s crime rate (combined total of violent and property crimes) dropped 38% in New Bedford between 2011 and 2019, according to FBI data with the trend set to continue in 2020. The NBPD has already submitted preliminary crime data from 2020 to the FBI; once formally recorded by the FBI, the…
Read MoreLargest Fentanyl seizure in New Bedford history
On the night of February 19 night and after a month-long investigation into fentanyl production and distribution taking place at 2100 Phillips Rd. NBPD Organized Crime and Intelligence Bureau (OCIB) Detectives produced the largest seizure of the deadly synthetic drug in the history of the city and by memory the largest drug seizure ever…
Read MoreNBPD Mourns the loss of beloved Capt. Richard Spirlet
Capt. Richard M. Spirlet, Retired N.B. P. D. of Westport, MA passed away at Charlton Memorial Hospital on Monday, December 28, 2020. He was the beloved husband of Lois (Shea) Spirlet and son of the late Marcel Spirlet and Lillian (Richard) Spirlet. He was born in Acushnet, MA. and in his younger years attended St.…
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