Latest news with #BellinghamPolice
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Yahoo
Bellingham MA police sergeant charged after R.I. car crash. What's next
A Bellingham police sergeant has been placed on paid administrative leave following his arrest in Rhode Island, Police Chief Ken Fitzgerald said in a press release. Fitzgerald said police in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, notified them on Thursday morning, June 26, that they had arrested Sgt. Kevin Heenan after an automobile accident. Heenan is charged with operating a vehicle under the influence of liquor and possession of firearm while intoxicated. Heenan, Fitzgerald said in the release, had allegedly crashed into a parked car. Based on both state Police Officers Standards and Training (POST) Commission and Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission standards, Bellingham Police have placed Heenan on paid administrative leave, pending his arraignment. 'Choices to be made': Mass. police departments must adjust to new training standards 'At that time, we will reassess his duty status,' Fitzgerald said in the release. 'While on leave, Sgt. Heenan has been relieved of all police powers and is restricted from accessing department property, systems or equipment unless specifically authorized.' According to the release, Bellingham Police will conduct an internal affairs investigation. Heenan's arrest has also been referred to the POST Commission. Heenan joined the Bellingham Police Department in 2015, according to a Bellingham Police Facebook post. He was promoted to sergeant in April 2024. 'First step': Gov. Baker proposes new certification system for police Heenan, according to the post, was a member of the Massachusetts National Guard and was ranked a sergeant first class and a part of the 387th Explosive Ordnance Disposal of Company. He had served in several overseas deployments, including in Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2005-06 and responded to the Boston Marathon bombing and had previously served as support to the Secret Service during presidential inaugurations. He is also a field training officer for Bellingham Police. 'The allegations are deeply concerning and do not reflect the standards of values of this department,' Fitzgerald said in the release. 'The Bellingham Police Department is committed to transparency, integrity, and professionalism, and take all allegations of criminal conduct — on or off duty — very seriously. We are fully cooperating with the Woonsocket Police Department and Rhode Island judicial authorities as this matter progresses.' Citing the pending internal investigation, Fitzgerald stated that police would not comment further. At the time of this report, no one from the Woonsocket Police Department could be reached for comment on information about the incident. Norman Miller can be reached at 508-626-3823 or nmiller@ For up-to-date public safety news, follow him on X @Norman_MillerMW or on Facebook at This article originally appeared on The Milford Daily News: Bellingham Police sergeant charged in Rhode Island crash
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Yahoo
Minor injuries reported after motorcycle crashes into occupied Bellingham home
A motorcycle was found wedged into the front door of an occupied home following a collision on Monday. Bellingham Police say a car and a motorcycle collided just before 2 p.m. in the area of Center Street and Park Street. The operator of the motorcycle, a 68-year-old man from Cumberland, Rhode Island, sustained minor injuries. He was transported to Milford Regional Medical Center for further evaluation. According to investigators, the man fell from the motorcycle and it continued a significant distance, eventually crashing into the front door of 155 Center Street. The home was occupied at the time but there were no reports of any injuries. The cause of the crash is under investigation. It's unclear if any charges will be filed. The driver of the motor vehicle was uninjured, according to police. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Yahoo
Bellingham sees highest rate of DUI arrests in 5 years
The Bellingham Police Department is sounding the alarm on impaired driving. In the first three months of 2025, officers made 114 DUI arrests, which is up from 99 DUI arrests at this time last year. It's the city's highest amount of DUI arrests in at least five years. 'If you choose to get in your car and drive impaired. That's a decision that you've made. Whether you're capable of getting in the car at that time or not. You didn't do something ahead of time when you were sober and could make that decision to change that,' says Lt. Claudia Murphy with Bellingham Police. In one recent arrest, officers report an impaired driver doing burnouts, hitting a parked car, and then crashing into a barrier, all without two front wheels. During a March 1 arrest, an impaired taxi driver, with a passenger into car, went off the road and became stuck on train tracks. The driver and passenger were able to evacuate before the taxi was hit by a train. As for what's driving the dangerous trend, that's still unclear according to Lt. Murphy. She tells KIRO 7 that the department has more officers and are directing more resources to patrols than they've been able to in years prior. Addiction could also be driving the number of impaired drivers. The department has seen a rise in daytime arrests. Monday is the day that officers have made the highest number of arrests, despite some assumptions that impairment might be higher on weekends. 'Part of it is when people are addicted to drug or alcohol, there is no particular day. They need the drug or alcohol all the time,' says Lt. Murphy. The Tacoma Police Department is also seeing a spike in impairment arrests. The department has made 141 DUI arrests this year, a 64% jump from the same time period last year. 'I've been doing this for 32 years, and we have been arresting people for drunk driving for 32 years, and before that, obviously, right? And we will continue to arrest people for drunk driving,' says Lt. Murphy. 'What has to happen is there has to be a societal shift.' Lt. Murphy tells KIRO 7, additional education and prevention services for youth could help create that necessary shift. She also believes in lowering the legal limit for driving from .08 to .05. A bill to change Washington's legal limit to .05 (SB 5067) was proposed in the state legislature this year. It stalled in committee after failing to pass the last two sessions.
