Shirley Police Chief Samuel Santiago says that the saying holds true, and he appreciates all those people who phone, email, stop by the station, or write letters.
Emergency calls to 911 go to the regional dispatch center, physically located at the Ayer Police Station. The dispatcher then contacts officers who are located closest to the situation.
For a non-emergency concern, the number to call is 978-425-2642, which will be answered in Shirley from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.Monday through Friday.
On March 4, Shirley officers initially responded to a report of a suspicious object in the water at Phoenix Pond. With that incident, Shirley Police called for help from Massachusetts State Police, MSP, and the District Attorney’s office. Upon further investigation, police discovered what appeared to be human remains.
The Shirley Police Department, MSP, and Middlesex District Attorney’s Office conducted a joint investigation. They determined that the incident did not pose a threat to Shirley residents, and the investigation remains active and ongoing. Additional information will be released as confirmed and appropriate to share.
Key situations where jurisdiction shifts to or is shared with Massachusetts State Police include:
•Geographical Boundaries: Local police jurisdiction ends at the town or city line, while MSP has authority statewide.
•State Property &Highways: MSP has primary jurisdiction on state-numbered highways, interstates, and state-owned property.
•Serious Crimes/Homicides: Outside of Boston, Worcester, Springfield, and Pittsfield, State Police Detective Units (assigned to District Attorneys’ offices)generally take lead on homicide investigations.
•Request for Assistance: Local departments may request MSP assistance for resources they lack, such as forensics, specialized units (e.g., Gang Unit, Bomb Squad), or to manage critical incidents.
•Fresh Pursuit: A police officer of a city or town who is empowered to make arrests with in a city or town may, on fresh and continued pursuit, exercise such authority in any other city ortown for any offense committedin his or her presence within hisor her jurisdiction for which he or she would have the right to arrest within his or her jurisdictionwithout a warrant. Said officer may return any person arrested to the jurisdiction wherein said offense was committed.
According to Chief Santiago, Middlesex County Mutual-Aid and Central Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council Mutual-Aid Agreement also cover Shirley.