MADD’s 2012 Drive for Life Law Enforcement Award

Chief Scott P. Livingstone is pleased to announce that on May 23, 2012, Amherst Police Officers Nicholas J. Chandler and Scott M. Soverino were recognized by the Massachusetts Chapter of MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving), receiving their 2012 Drive for Life Award, at a ceremony held at the Devens Common Center in Devens, MA.

Both officers were recognized, along with other municipal and State Police officers from across the state, for their dedication and commitment in enforcing the drunk driving and underage drinking laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. This award was given to selected police officers for their excellence and leadership in drunken driving enforcement in the 2011 calendar year.

Officer Chandler has been a member of the police department since February 3, 2009 and Officer Soverino has been a member of the department since April 20, 2010. This will be the third consecutive year that Officer Chandler has been the recipient of this award. During 2011, Officer Nicholas Chandler made 55 operating under the influence (OUI) arrests while Officer Scott Soverino made 25. Together, Officers Chandler and Soverino made 80 of the Department’s 144 OUI arrests in 2011.

 The efforts of these officers demonstrate the Amherst Police Departments overall commitment to the safety of the Amherst community. Officers of the Amherst Police Department continue to make traffic enforcement a priority, including the detection and apprehension of drunk drivers who endanger the safety and security of our community.

For further information, please contact Sergeant Todd Lang or go to www.madd.org

Community Shred Event, June 2, 2012

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.

Emergency Grab and Go Bag Campaign

If you had to leave your home on short notice due to an emergency and weren’t sure how long you would be away, would you know what to take with you?

The Amherst S.A.L.T. Council (Seniors and Law Enforcement Together) in cooperation with the Amherst Police and Fire Departments, Amherst Council on Aging, the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office and the Hampshire County Sheriff’s Office, are in the process of assembling “Grab and Go” bags to be given to Amherst senior citizens for use in just such a situation. After last October’s snow storm, it became apparent that there was a need for more detailed emergency preparedness plans, especially for our senior citizens.

The “Grab and Go Bag” will include items such as toothpaste, toothbrush, pill box, flashlight, bottle of water, first aid kit, and File of Life (which lists emergency information such as medical conditions, medications and emergency contacts). There will also be a list of suggestions for recipients to add to the bag.

If you would be willing to offer a monetary donation for this project, we would be happy to add your name to a list of contributors which will be included on the “Grab and Go Bag.” Although any amount would be greatly appreciated, you may become a Gold Sponsor for $200; a Silver Sponsor for $100; or a Bronze Sponsor for $50. We kindly request your donation by June 30, 2012.

Checks may be made payable to “Amherst S.A.L.T. Council” with a notation “Grab and Go Bag” on the check. Please send to:

Robert Joy

Amherst S.A.L.T. Council
Bangs Community Center
70 Boltwood Walk
Amherst, MA 01002

For further information you may contact Officer David Rhoades at 413-259-3000 or via email.

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, May 19, 2012, 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 Patrol Officer Michael Forcum via email or call (413) 259-3000.

Sex Offender Community Notification

Pursuant to Massachusetts General Law Chapter 6 Sections 178C-178P, the individual listed below has been designated as a Level 3 Sex Offender by the Massachusetts Sex Offender Registry Board. The Board has determined that this individual is at a high risk to reoffend and the degree of dangerousness posed to the public is such that a substantial public safety interest is served by active community notification. This individual is not wanted by the Amherst Police Department.
NOEL RIVERA
Home Address: 408 Northampton Road, Amherst, MA

Work: 44 O’Neil Street, Easthampton, MA

Description: Age 41, 5’6”, 160 lbs, Brown Hair, Brown Eyes


Conviction Dates/Offenses: Rape and Abuse of a Child, Four Counts (2005)

Sex Offender Registry information shall not be used to commit a crime or to engage in illegal discrimination or harassment of an offender. Any person who uses information disclosed pursuant to M.G.L. C. 6, S.S. 178c-178P for such purposes shall be punished by not more than 2 1/2 years in a house of correction or by a fine of not more than $1,000 or both (M.G.L. C 6 S.S. 178N). In addition, any person who uses registry information to threaten to commit a crime may be punished by a fine of not more than $100 or by imprisonment for not more than six (6) months (M.G.L. C. 275 S.S. 4).

Seat Belt Enforcement

The Amherst Police Department will be conducting a zero tolerance seat belt enforcement initiative from May 7 – 12, 2012. Officers will be out on selected dates and times actively enforcing all Massachusetts motor vehicle laws. If operators or passengers are found not to be wearing their seat belt they will be issued a citation. The goals are to increase effective enforcement of traffic related laws, and to reduce fatal and serious injury crashes.


Massachusetts law requires all drivers and passengers to be properly restrained in a safety belt, booster seat or child safety seat. A driver may be stopped by police solely for having a child 12 years of age or younger improperly restrained ($25 fine per unbuckled occupant). Children under 5 and weighing 40 pounds or less must be properly secured in a child safety seat. For more information contact Lieutenant William Menard at menardw@amherstma.gov or Sergeant Todd Lang at langt@amherstma.gov .

The Amherst Police Department conducts Child Passenger Car Seat inspections on the 3rd SATURDAY of each month, 3:00PM-6PM, by appointment only. Amherst Police certified technicians will thoroughly inspect child passenger car seats for wear and effectiveness and install it properly to assure the safest ride for our children. To schedule a 30 minute appointment either email the Amherst Police Department at police@amherstma.gov call 413-259-3355 and leave a voicemail. Questions can also be forwarded to Patrol Officer Michael Forcum at forcumm@amherstma.gov at 413-259-3000.

Road Race 2012!

See Video from our 2011 Road Race!

Coffee with A Cop Program at Rao's

Officer Carlos Gutierrez on the Coffee with a Cop Program

1st Monday of every month, 4:30 to 5:30 meet with Officer Marcus Humber or Officer Carlos Gutierrez to discuss neighborhood concerns, offer suggestions or ask questions.  Join Us at Raos Coffee!

On April 23, 2012 at approximately 11:45AM, investigators from the Amherst Police Department arrested Timothy M. Mahoney of Westfield. Mahoney was arrested at the United States Post Office on University Drive. The arrest follows an investigation completed in conjunction with federal investigators.


Mahoney was found to be receiving shipments of marijuana in the mail. On April 23, 2012 he received a shipment from California that contained multiple pounds of marijuana. He was stopped at the post office by Amherst Police officers and arrested. The investigation is ongoing.

Timothy M. Mahoney, Age 31 (photo below)
37 Miller Street
Westfield, Massachusetts 01085


Charge: Possession with Intent to Distribute Class D Substance (marijuana).   Mahoney was held in lieu of $5000 cash bail. He is expected to be arraigned this morning at the Eastern Hampshire District Court.

Amherst and UMASS Police Youth Adventure Academy 2012

***May 9, 2012 THE YOUTH ACADEMY IS FULL! HOPE TO SEE YOU NEXT YEAR****


The Amherst and University of Massachusetts Police Departments are pleased to announce the dates of the Amherst and UMASS Police Youth Adventure Academy. 

The 2012, Amherst and UMASS Police Youth Adventure Academy is a ONE week program, being held Monday July 9, 2012 to Friday July 13, 2012, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  Youths entering 6^th, 7^th, or 8^th grades are eligible to attend. 

 The cost is FREE and academy size is limited to 20 youths, so preference will be given to Amherst residents and UMASS affiliated families (ex. parent/guardian works or is a student at UMASS).  Similar to a Citizens Police Academy, students will attend morning classroom sessions held at both the Amherst and UMASS Police Departments.  The classroom sessions will feature lectures, role-plays, and interactive demonstrations by police officers, from both agencies, focusing in the areas of law, crime scene investigation, defensive tactics and patrol procedures.  Most afternoon sessions will be held at the Amherst Adventure Based Ropes Course at the Notch Visitors Center where we will promote teamwork, communication, and strategy development. 

 Additional information concerning the Amherst and UMASS Police Youth Adventure Academy is available on the Amherst Police Department website.  Applications may be obtained at the Amherst Police Department lobby, UMASS Police Department lobby or downloaded off the Amherst Police Department website. 

The application deadline is June 22^nd, 2012, so please don’t delay!  Questions regarding the Youth Adventure Academy can be forwarded to either Amherst Police Officer William Laramee at 413-259-3000 or via email or UMASS Police Officer Brian Kellogg at 413-545-9461 or via email. 

Amherst Police Department Awarded $55,000.00 Grant

The Amherst Police Department has received a $55,000 grant from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS). This competitive grant is awarded under the Edward J. Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (Byrne JAG) Program, a grant program originating from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, and Bureau of Justice Assistance. The JAG Program provides Massachusetts critical funding necessary to support a range of program areas including law enforcement, prosecution and court programs, prevention and education programs, corrections and community corrections, drug treatment and enforcement, crime victim and witness initiatives, and various planning, evaluation, and technology improvement programs. Of the 110 grants received by EOPSS, the Amherst Police Department was one of only 63 that were funded.

The Amherst Police Department will use this funding to hire, train and equip a part-time civilian crime analyst. The goal of this program is to prevent and reduce crime within the town of Amherst through the analysis of incident, traffic and call data. The analysis of the data developed by the crime analyst will be utilized to make strategic, tactical and long term decisions regarding staffing and deployment of personnel. The crime analyst will work closely to aid both the patrol operations and the detective bureau to accomplish the overall goal of reducing and preventing crime within the Amherst community.

“Due to the difficult economic climate, the police department is faced with fewer resources while activity levels have continually increased, and we hope that the implementation of intelligence led policing can improve our efficiency” said Chief of Police Scott P. Livingstone. “With the analysis of existing data and trends, we can make more informed decisions based on the data, thus we will improve our ability to problem solve and address crime and disorder issues within the town.”

While this grant award is for one year, the Amherst Police Department will be aggressive in identifying other state and federal grant programs that can extend the program beyond the twelve month period. The Amherst Police Department will immediately begin advertising for the part-time civilian advocate, and hope to have the position filled by June 1, 2012. Questions regarding this program can be forwarded to Captain Jennifer Gundersen at 413-259-3012.

Community Outreach with Sigma Delta Tau

The Amherst Police Department will be partnering with the members of the UMASS Chapter of Sigma Delta Tau sorority to educate off campus residents on the various town bylaws relating to noise and disruptive behavior. Amherst Police Officers and the Sigma Delta Tau sisters will be going door to door in the various apartment complexes and neighborhoods that house off campus housing, speaking to students and handing out flyers on the bylaws pertaining to Open Containers of Alcohol, Nuisance House and Noise Violations. The Amherst Police Department is very happy that Sigma Delta Tau has partnered with us on this project! This outreach event will happen on Wednesday April 11, 2012, starting at 7PM. Questions can be forwarded to Amherst Police Officer Bill Laramee or Sigma Delta Tau Community Service Event Coordinator Sara Beebe.