Page 70 - Middleborough 2024 Town Report

M I D D L E B O R O U G H
POLICE DEPARTMENT
The Middleborough Police Department
respectfully submits the 2024, one hundred and fiteenth
annual report.
Wareham Police Department with 12 years of police
experience.
The most significant change to the department during this
year was the retirement to Chief Joseph M. Perkins ater 35
years of service in September. Chief Perkins most notably
served the department as a narcotics detective before
rising through the ranks to become Chief of Police in 2014.
As the Chief of Police, Joe was successful in transitioning
the department to a new modern police facility, attained a
Certificate of Accreditation from the Massachusetts
Police Accreditation Commission and implemented the
body worn camera program. Chief Perkins had an
incredible impact on the Middleborough Police
Department during his career and his knowledge and
experience will be missed.
The Middleborough Police Department has increased 2
civilian dispatcher positions at the police stations to
answer 911 calls and dispatch emergency services. It is
expected that additional civilian dispatchers will be added
in 2025 to the police and fire dispatch services.
Detective Timothy Needham retired ater 37 years of
service. Tim served the Middleborough Police
Department as a patrol oficer, evidence oficer, disability
commission liaison and for 21 years as a detective. For the
last 8 years of his career, Detective Needham was also a
firearms licensing oficer.
The Middleborough Police Department is a fully
accredited participating agency of the Massachusetts
Police Accreditation Commission and underwent a
three-year audit of our policies and practices. In December
of 2024, we were notified that the Middleborough Police
Department “having fully demonstrated its commitment
to police excellence by living up to a body of progressive
standards to ensure that the delivery of police services
within the Commonwealth is at the highest level of
professionalism and integrity and having relected the
best professional practices in each are of police
management, administration, operation, and support
services” was awarded a Certificate of Re-Accreditation.
Oficer Wheldon Nelson retired ater 13 years
of law enforcement service. Oficer Nelson served as a
patrol oficer while also serving 15 years in the United
States Army.
The members of the Middleborough Police Department
are proud of our department and the services we provide
to the Town of Middleborough. Please follow us on
Facebook and Twitter/X for more information of services
and what your police department does for the community
throughout the year.
Robert D. Ferreira, Jr. who served as the Deputy Chief of
Police since 2023 was appointed as Interim Chief of Police
in September which provided stable continuity and
consistency to the department.
Two new oficers were hired in 2024 to backfill existing
vacancies. Oficer Sophia Barnard began her career in
2024 and Oficer Scott Cowan transferred from the
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