APD Neighborhood Watch Program

The Neighborhood Watch Program was developed to bring together law enforcement teams and private citizens in a cooperative effort for the betterment of all our citizens. Much of the work is done by the committee chair people and the Neighborhood Watch officers who are involved with the program. This is simply a program of neighbors watching out for each other. It is designed to enlist the active participation of citizens, in cooperation with the police, to reduce crime and to improve the quality of life in their neighborhoods.

For more information on how to join or start a program in your neighborhood, refer to our Neighborhood Watch web-page.

APD Sponsors Youth Fishing Derby

The Amherst Police Department will be sponsoring a Youth Fishing Derby on Sunday, May 23rd, 2010, from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm. This event will be held at the Mill Street entrance to Puffers Pond.

The Youth Fishing Derby is a very successful event which has, in the past, brought out dozens of young fishers in the community. It is an excellent way for the youth of Amherst to meet their Amherst Police Officers in a social, fun setting. The Youth Fishing Derby is open to children, ages 12 and under, who are accompanied by a parent or guardian. Prizes will be awarded for the winners in various categories. The Amherst Police Department will provide the bait and soda - children will only need to bring their own fishing poles. The Fishing Derby is held rain or shine, and no pre-registration is required for this community-wide event. Come out for a day of fun!

Please contact Sergeant David Knightly at 413-259-3274, or via e-mail, if you have any questions about this event.

New Officers Appointed

Chief Scott P. Livingstone announced the appointment of two new patrol officers to the Amherst Police Department. Thomas W. Clark, Jr., and Scott M. Soverino were appointed after an extensive selection process which included a citizen/staff interview panel, physical and psychological testing and interviews with the Chief of Police and Town Manager. The two vacancies were created with the recent resignation of two patrol officers.

Thomas W. Clark, Jr., 25, is the son of Thomas W. and Patricia A. Clark of Ware, Massachusetts. He is a 2003 graduate of Pathfinder Regional Vocational High School, a 2006 Graduate of Holyoke Community College, where he obtained his Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice, and a 2008 graduate of Westfield State College, where he obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice. He graduated from the State Police Municipal Police Academy, Class Number 2, on December 11, 2009. Mr. Clark was previously employed as a part time police officer for the Ware, Monson, and Whately police departments. Mr. Clark currently resides in Ware, Massachusetts.

Scott M. Soverino, 25, is the son of Lee Soverino of Somers, Connecticut, and Jeanette Hull, of Nantucket, Massachusetts. Upon graduating from Nantucket High School in 2002, Mr. Soverino enlisted in the United States Air Force. After completion of basic training he was assigned to the Security Forces at Whiteman Air Force Base. He served in Iraq in 2004, Kuwait in 2007, and he returned to Iraq from July 2007 through March 2008. He concluded his active duty status with the Air Force in August, 2008, having advanced to the rank of Senior Airmen. He graduated from the MBTA Transit Police Academy, 24th M.P.O.C., on September 23, 2009, and he was the recipient of the Top Gun Award. Mr. Soverino was previously employed at Nantucket Cottage Hospital, and he currently resides in Belchertown, Massachusetts.

Neighborhood Clean Up Project

The Amherst Police Department’s Community Enhancement Through Community Service Program has worked in several neighborhoods in the downtown Amherst area. On Saturday, April 24, 2010, Detective Foster and his team of workers were picking up trash on Fearing Street, Nutting Avenue, Phillips Street, Sunset Avenue, Lincoln Avenue, and College Street. This request came from Officer Bill Laramee who is assigned to the district that covers most of these streets. Through Officer Laramee’s meetings with residents of that area, these community members requested assistance with addressing some of the littering and trash.

The Community Service Program assists organizations with minor projects by providing free labor. The program is a tool to allow offenders who are required to serve court-ordered community service hours by the Eastern Hampshire District Court to complete that service here in Amherst. The offenders, many of whom were charged with minor alcohol offenses, have worked on several community projects since its inception in 2007.

Detective David Foster coordinates this successful program and is looking for suggestions for how this group can help the Amherst community. Detective Foster, who schedules and is present at all weekend projects, can be reached via email or by calling the Amherst Police Department Detective Bureau at 413-259-3015.

Amherst Police Department Open House

On Saturday, May 22, 2010, the Amherst Police Department will be hosting an open house from 10 am to 2 pm. The event is free, and there is no registration required to attend. Amherst Police Officers from the Uniformed Patrol Division and the Detective Bureau will give tours of the station, they will display some of the equipment that the Officers use, and they will explain the mission of the Amherst Police Department as well.

Officers will also be on-hand to enroll children in the “Kid Care” identification program. Members of the Hampshire County Sheriff’s Office will be there as well to use an iris scanner to take digital photographs of your children’s eyes. Additionally, a representative from the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office will be present to explain the role of police in the court system.

If you have any questions, please contact Officer Jamie Reardon via e-mail or at (413)259-3000.

Vehicle Operator Identified

Investigators have identified the operator of the vehicle involved in the hit and run collision on Main Street, in Amherst, on April 17, 2010. The collision was reported to the Amherst Police Department at approximately 10:00 p.m. and involved a dark-colored sedan striking a bicyclist. The bicyclist has since been released from the hospital.
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The investigation identified the operator of the vehicle as a 19-year-old Orange, Massachusetts, man. He will be summoned to the Eastern Hampshire District Court to answer the charge of Leaving the Scene of a Personal Injury Accident. No court date has been set.
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The vehicle in question is in the custody of the Amherst Police Department and is being examined with the assistance of the Massachusetts State Police crime scene section. The matter remains under investigation.
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For more information, contact Det. Sergeant William Menard at 413-259-3015. You can also e-mail a tip on our online reporting site or call our tip line at 413-259-3344.

Man Arrested Following Incident Involving Gun

On April 15, 2010, at approximately 4:45 pm, several Officers from the Amherst Police Department responded to the area of 120 Belchertown Rd. for the report of two men involved in an altercation. Responding Officers learned from witnesses on the scene that one of the men had a gun and that he had just struck the other man with his vehicle.

Officers did in fact locate a victim who had been struck by a car. He is a 23-year-old Springfield man, and he was transported by Amherst Fire Department Ambulance to Baystate Medical Center where he was treated and released.

Arrested at the scene was:
Jyming Chea, age 27
266 East Hadley Road #97C
Amherst, Massachusetts

The investigation revealed that the two men know one another and that they had become embroiled in a dispute over a young woman. Chea arrived on the scene at Belchertown Road and saw the victim outside of the house. He struck the victim with his car, knocking him to the ground. Chea then alit from the vehicle and produced a handgun. The victim ran into the woods with Chea pursuing him. Chea began to punch and kick the victim while he was on the ground. Responding Officers located Chea and placed him under arrest. The pistol was later recovered and found to be a 9MM.

Chea was arraigned this morning in the Eastern Hampshire District Court on the following charges:

A&B By Means Dangerous Weapon, Two Counts (car, shod foot)
Assault & Battery
Assault with a Dangerous Weapon (gun)

Chea is being held at the Hampshire County House of Corrections without the right to bail pending his appearance in the Eastern Hampshire District Court on Tuesday, April 20, 2010. At that time he will be arraigned for the following charges:

Possession of a Handgun Without a Permit
Possession of a Firearm, Defaced Serial Number
Carrying a Dangerous Weapon (hand gun)
Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Felony

The matter remains under investigation.

Discount Coupons for Bicycle Light Systems

In an effort to increase the use of lighting systems for nighttime cycling, the Amherst Police Department has partnered with Laughing Dog Bicycles, located at 63 South Pleasant St., in Amherst, to offer discount coupons for bicycle lighting systems. Amherst Police Officers will be distributing coupons for 10% off a complete lighting system purchased from Laughing Dog Bicycles.

In addition, the Amherst Police Department will be assigning officers to educate and enforce the bicycle safety laws, with both cyclists and motorists, as part of a grant received from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security Highway Safety Division.

The Amherst Police have been working together with the Amherst Public Transportation and Bicycle Committee to share ideas on promoting safe cycling, and this coupon program was developed from that collaboration. Community members are encouraged to view our Sharing the Roadway link at the Amherst Police Department Website for additional information. If you have any questions regarding this program, contact Sgt. Brian Daly at (413) 259-3000 or via email.

Amherst and UMass Police Youth Adventure Academy 2010

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

The 2010 Amherst and UMass Police Youth Adventure Academy is a one-week program, and it will be held Monday, July 12th to Friday, July 16th, 2010, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Youths entering 6th, 7th, or 8th grades are eligible to attend. There is no cost, it is free, but academy size is limited to 20 youths so preference will be given to Amherst residents and UMass affiliated families (for example, a parent or guardian who works at 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, patrol procedures, and Internet safety. Most afternoon sessions will be held at the Amherst Adventure Based Ropes Course, at the Norwottuck Range, where we will promote teamwork, communication, and strategy development.

Additional information about 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 10th, 2010, so please don’t delay! Questions regarding the Youth Adventure Academy can be forwarded to either Amherst Police Officer Todd Lang at 413-259-3000 or UMass Police Officer Brian Kellogg at 413-545-2121.

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 Thursday of each month. The next scheduled inspection day is Thursday, April 15, 2010, by appointment. Open to Amherst residents only, 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 at police@amherstma.gov or call 413-259-3355. Again, this program is open to Amherst residents only.

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 Michael Johnson or Detective Tina Knightly or call (413) 259-3000.