'Credible Threat' Warning Issued That Gangs Might Target Burlington Police and Others Across the Country

The Baltimore Police Department has issue a national alert warning law enforcement agencies across the country, including Massachusetts about a credible threat that gang members may be organizing to “take out” police officers.

The threat notification was issued earlier this morning and sent to the NLETS system. Police also requested media outlets share the information with the public.

The alert noted that the department’s Criminal Intelligence Unit had received “credible information that members of various gangs, including the Black Guerrilla Family, Bloods, and Crips, have entered into a partnership to ‘take-out’ law enforcement officers.”

The alert called the partnership “a credible threat” and advised that officers should take precautions to protect themselves.

Burlington Police Chief Michael Kent says officer safety is always paramount.

“From threats of this nature to everyday calls, officers need to be cognizant that things can go bad quickly,” he says. “Burlington has highly trained officers who handle a wide variety of calls in a professional manner.”

The unrest in Baltimore is due to the death of Freddie Gray, a 25-year-old man who died in police custody on April 19, 2015, after a spinal injury, which prompted anti-police brutality demonstrations and clashes with police.