NBPD Crime Report

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

  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…

  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…

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.…