Burlington Police Responded to Boston Following Marathon Bombing

After two bombs went off at the Boston Marathon, police officers from communities all over the Boston area joined Boston Police, State Police and the FBI to help with security and the subsequent investigation.

Burlington was no exception.

Police Chief Michael Kent told Patch in an interview that seven members of the Burlington Police Department spent the week following the bombing and the killing of one suspect and the capture of the second working in Boston.

"Boston Police put the call out very shortly after the bombing," Kent said. "Our guys went into the the city and worked 12-on 12-off hour shifts throughout the week"

The Burlington PD members who went into the city were Sgt. Tim McDonough, Sgt. Dan Hanafin, Detective Matt Leary, Officer Charles Ferguson, Officer Dan Houston and Officer Peter Abaskharoun. Burlington K9 Officer Joe Papsedero was also in the city with Burlington K9 Havoc.

Kent said the officers were part of the North Eastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council (NEMLEC) team. The council is made up of police departments from communities around the area and the purpose is that when one community needs assistance, the rest will respond.

"The call went out shortly after the bombing which activated regional units and everyone headed into Boston," Kent said.

Boston is not a member of NEMLAC, Kent said, but the organization will send support under very serious circumstances.

"This situation certainly fit the criteria," he said.

Kent said that prior to the Watertown incident with the second suspect hiding in a boat, the Burlington Officers were assisting Boston Police with securing the perimeter of the crime scene.

Also Ferguson and McDonough were assigned to the SWAT team and were presents for the 21 hour stretch after the Thursday night incident in Watertown, he said. They assisted in checking homes for the

"When the suspect in the boat was captured Sgt. McDonough was in the house next door giving 'high cover' from an upstairs window," Kent said. "He had a vantage point for the whole operation."

Kent said in his view the cooperative effort by the different police agencies was a big success and was untainted by any sense of territory or competition.

"I think quite honestly that happens sometimes but from what I understand this was was very good cooperation among local, state and federal agencies," he said. "Egos were checked at the door. A lot of credit needs to go to the chiefs and the agents in charge of FBI, who set the example of working cooperatively."

"NEMLEC is a very good regional approach, we are lucky to have access to it," he added.

Finally, Kent said the federal government has agreed to cover the costs of sending the Burlington Police Department members to Boston.