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The Oak Bluffs Police Department is committed to providing quality police service to our community with the highest level of professionalism and integrity. We dedicate ourselves to proactively solving problems, preventing and fighting crime, and promoting a higher quality of life by working in partnership with the community.
Statistics
Sex Offender Registry Board
Accreditation
The Oak Bluffs Police Department Canine Unit was formed in September 2011. The unit consists of one officer and one dog, Buster who together train, work and live with eachother 24/7. The canine unit's primary function is to patrol and assist the Department and with other island departments in locating missing persons and drug searches. As a public service the canine unit will perform demonstrations for schools and at community events.
The Oak Bluffs Police Department is accredited by the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission. The purpose of accreditation is to improve the delivery of public safety services, primarily by: complying with a body of standards, developed by public safety practitioners, covering a wide range of up-to-date public safety initiatives; establishing and administering an accreditation process; and recognizing professional excellence.
Police accreditation is a process by which a police agency formally evaluates its activities and seeks an independent judgment that it substantially achieves its own objectives and is generally equal in quality to comparable agencies.
The essential elements of the accreditation process are: an onsite evaluation by a selected group of peers and a decision by an independent commission that the agency is worthy of accreditation.
In order to be an accredited police agency, a police department must meet certain standards established by the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission. These standards reflect the best professional practices in each area of police management, administration, operation and support services. The Oak Bluffs Police Department must prove compliance with 252 mandatory standards and a minimum of 80 optional standards to be eligible for accreditation.
Motor Vehicle Crash Report:
You must fill out this form within 5 business days of your crash. Please follow the directions on the front page.
MV Crash Report.pdf
Lost, Stolen Property Form:
Please fill out this form if you have lost or had your property stolen. This form MUST be submitted in person.
Lost, Stolen Property Form.pdf
Police Detail Request Form:
Please fill out this form if you require a uniformed police detail at your event held in Oak Bluffs. Questions about police details can be directed to Suzanne Cioffi, Executive Assitant.
Police Detail Request Form.pdf
*To download and view the above documents, please ensure that you have Adobe Reader installed on your computer. Adobe Reader is free to download and can be found by clicking HERE.
The Sex Offender Registry Board (SORB, or the Board) is the state agency responsible for keeping track of convicted sex offenders and classifying each offender so that the public may receive information about dangerous sex offenders who live and work in each community.
Goal of the SORB:
1. To educate the public; and
2. To prevent further victimization.
Responsibilities of SORB:
1. Promulgate guidelines for determining a sex offender's level of risk of reoffense and the degree of dangerousness posed to the public;
2. Develop guidelines for use by city and town police department in disseminating sex offender registry information.
We encourage citizens to obtain a list of registered sex offenders in their town.
For Sex Offender Registry information in the Town of Oak Bluffs, please contact Detective Nicholas Curelli at (508) 693-0750.
Firearms application information can be obtained at the Oak Bluffs Police Department by making an appointment with:
Jeannie Pierson, Police Clerk
Monday through Friday
8:00am-4:00pm
Once you have made an appointment bring:
$100.00 NON-REFUNDABLE check made payable to the Town of Oak Bluffs.
All applicants for an LTC or FID must be a resident of the Town of Oak Bluffs. Photo identification, as well as a recent utility bill for the applicant's residence must accompany the application.
Applications will not be submitted unless all of the requirements are met. Expect the process to take up to 6 weeks for processing.
If you have any firearms questions, please contact Police Clerk Jeanie Pierson.
Parents should review with their children the following safety tips:
Plan your child's walking route (the safest direct route to the bus stop or school) to minimize the number of street crossings, particularly on busy streets;
Children should always cross at crosswalks and look both ways before crossing;
Children should always obey the crossing guard, police officer or traffic signal at an intersection;
Children should always wear protective headgear when riding a bicycle. They should also cycle in the same direction as traffic and learn the rules of the road;
Children should stay seated at the same times while traveling on a school bus and never put her/his head, hands or arms out the bus window;
Children should cross at least 10 feet in front of the bus so the driver can see them;
Be aware of book bags with straps or wearing loose clothing, scarves or drawstring jackets which can catch on bus handrails when exiting school buses;
Children should always wear a safety belt when traveling in a passenger vehicle. However, All children up to the age of 12 must wear a safety belt and all infants must be in a federally approved child passenger restraint device;
Children should never talk to or accept a ride from a stranger;
Be sure to allow enough time for your child to arrive at school without rushing, as children in a hurry make poor safety decisions.
In addition, all vehicle drivers should be aware of and follow the laws for stopping for a school bus with flashing lights, as well as obeying the speed limit, especially in a posted school zone (20 mph).
Sergeants Michael Marchand, Steven Conley and Officer Jermaine Mendez are State Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians. Appointments can be made for installation or a safety check of previously installed child safety equipment by calling the Oak Bluffs Police Department.
The Oak Bluffs Police Department currently offers a home and business registration service for the purpose of contacting owners and caretakers of properties and businesses throughout the town. From time to time the Oak Bluffs Police Department responds to calls throughout the community and makes every attempt to contact these parties to report and resolve the issues we encounter. The registration of properties with the Oak Bluffs Police Department can help streamline this process resulting in a more efficient response and resolution of issues; some of which include property crimes, open doors along with other service oriented calls.
If you are a homeowner and wish to register your property with the Oak Bluffs Police Department, please complete the form below and submit it to Jeanie Pierson, Police Clerk.
If you are a business owner, the Oak Bluffs Police Department requests that you complete this form and re-submit it whenever management or authorized employees change.
If you have any questions about property registration please contact the Oak Bluffs Police Department at any time.
Property Registration Form.pdf
The Oak Bluffs Police Departments Detective Unit serves as the investigative branch of the department. It is the mission of the Detective unit to conduct follow-up investigations of crimes initially investigated by patrol officers and to perform investigations of serious felonies such as homicide, rape, robbery, and drug trafficking. The Detective Unit also works in conjunction with the Martha's Vineyard Drug Task Force, DEA, FBI and Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Agency.
Department Info.
2 Oak Bluffs Avenue
P.O Box 1504
Oak Bluffs, MA 02557
Phone: 508-693-0750
Fax: 508-693-7657
EMERGENCY DIAL: 911
Department E-Mail Contacts
Dear Oak Bluffs residents and visitors,
I welcome you to the Oak Bluffs Police Department website. Here you will find information about your police department, important initiatives and links to services or programs offered by the department and the community. The men and woman of the Oak Bluffs Police Department are dedicated to upholding our Core Values- Service- Integrity & Professionalism.
The Department is comprised of 15 fulltime officers and two civilian staff. My goal and commitment to the citizens and visitors to Oak Bluffs is to provide quality police services using a community policing/ problem solving approach. Your officers understand that community policing is not derived from a text book, it is a mind set and a dedicated belief that without stakeholders and partnerships we cannot succeed in maintaining the quality of life that all our people deserve.
Please explore the many options this website offers. I trust that there is valuable information contained herein for you to use. If you have further questions please stop by the Oak Bluffs Police station located on Oak Bluffs Ave or contact us at the provided email and phone listings.
I want to thank all the members of the Oak Bluffs Police Department for their faithful service and unrelenting dedication to policing excellence.
Respectfully,
ERIK G. BLAKE
Chief
The patrol division is the backbone of the Oak Bluffs Police Department. Patrol Officers in Oak Bluffs perform traditional police duties as well as community policing roles. In addition to responding to 911 calls and other calls for service, Officers perform traffic enforcement, emergency medical assistance supplementary to the Oak Bluffs EMS and various other services as community needs arise. Officers in Oak Bluffs act in a proactive manner with directed patrols as well as other problem solving activities. They work in partnership with members of our community in seeking out and resolving problems to enhance the quality of life for the residents and visitors of Oak Bluffs.
In Oak Bluffs patrols are divided in to three overlapping shifts, 8:00am-6:00pm, 4:00pm-2:00am and 10:00pm-8:00am.
The Oak Bluffs Police Departments Motor Cycle Unit operates on a year round basis. They may be assigned to both general patrol duties or to traffic enforcement. Motorcycle officers are also frequently employed at special events, such as parades or funerals. Motorcycle officers must complete a state certified program to become a member of the motorcycle unit.
In 2004, the Town of Oak Bluffs acquired a patrol boat, purchased with funds received from a port security grant written by Sgt. George Fisher (Ret.) of the Oak Bluffs Police Department along with Peter Martell, Emergency Management Director. The vessel, christened Red White & Blue, is a 40 foot aluminum craft powered by two jet propelled diesel engines. The vessel was custom built by Metal Craft Marine Inc. based out of Kingston, Canada. The primary functions of the patrol boat are port security, law enforcement and to provide security around cruise ships and passenger vessels. The Town of Oak Bluffs and the United States Coast Guard have entered into a Memorandum of Agreement to give certified and trained Oak Bluffs Police Officers the authority to enforce federal regulations upon the waters of Vineyard Sound and Western Nantucket Sound.
Secondary functions of the patrol boat include but are not limited to firefighting, search and rescue, diving operations and responding to medical emergencies. The boat crew is comprised of members of the Oak Bluffs Police, Fire and Emergency Management departments. Each member of the boat crew has received specialized training in seamanship and maritime operations. Only trained members of the boat crew are authorized to operate the patrol boat. The commanding Officer of the patrol boat is Officer Jeffrey LaBell who is also a Port Security Officer for the Town of Oak Bluffs.
The mission of the Oak Bluffs Police Department Chaplaincy is to provide a ministry of presence, support, and counsel to members of the OBPD.
The ministry takes place in these ways:
Ride-alongs with patrol officers
Department visits during shifts
Department and public events
Responding to major incidents
Visiting injured or ill officers
Notifying families of injured officers
On-request, confidential counsel
Personal & family wellness training
Assistance with crime victims
VISION STATEMENT: "Upholding those who uphold the law."
CHAPLAINCY CORE VALUES: Integrity, Confidentiality, Quality
Message from Chaplain David Berube:
Police work can be a "Catch-22" -when people need assistance a police officer can never get there fast enough, but when they are the object of an officer's enforcement attention they wish the police would never arrive. For example, citizens requesting increased speed enforcement in their neighborhoods get rather upset when stopped for speeding down their street.
On the positive side, law enforcement officers often get to participate in life's great moments - found children, saved lives, order restored to chaotic situations. It is a privilege to be able to actively shape a positive outcome from a seemingly dark reality.
I often compare the work of police officers to that of shepherds. Both jobs require skill at guiding and protecting. Both require the ability to be gentle and forceful. The shepherd must be able to calmly direct the sheep in one moment and decisively defend them from predators in another. The police officer must be able to helpfully assist members of the community, and assertively protect them from those who break the law. Both shepherds and police need the wisdom to know when to employ each skill and be able to swiftly adjust from one role to the other.
Police work can really tax a person as he or she goes from positive to the negative and back again many times each day. Combine this with the reality of going from a calm day to an adrenaline boosting emergency at any moment and it creates a great deal of stress.
As a shepherd to the shepherds, a major part of the police chaplain's role is helping officers deal with the stresses of the profession. A chaplain needs to know their officers, understand their reality, and provide support, counsel, or other resources. A police chaplain combines all the spiritual and wellness help of a clergy person with a passion for serving the unique world of police officers. It is a special calling to serve in this culture.
The Oak Bluffs Police Department currently employs a fleet of two Cannondale mountain bikes. The bikes are used primarily during the spring, summer and fall. They provide officers with an effective community policing tool by allowing for personal interaction between citizens and officers not possible in a police cruiser. The bikes also allow officers to access off-road areas and crowded downtown hot spots, safer and more efficiently than on foot or in a cruiser. Officers must complete a state certified program to become a member of the mountain bike unit.
In the fall of 2006, The Marthas Vineyard Law Enforcement Council, comprised of the islands police chiefs, Sheriff McCormack and Lt. Moore of the Mass. State Police, unanimously voted to create a regional Tactical Response Team to respond to critical incidents in support of the islands patrol force. The leadership of the Massachusetts State Police Special Tactical Operations (STOP) Team was consulted and a framework was established for the creation of the unit. Selected as the teams Executive Officer and Tactical Commander is LT. Timothy Williamson of the Oak Bluffs Police Department, also a military veteran with tactical training.
The goal of the T.R.T is to assist member departments in the containment, de-escalation and ultimate control of critical incidents that exceed the capabilities of standard police resources, thus increasing the likelihood of a safe resolution.
You are required to fill out the application completely and accurately. It is considered a measurement of your ability to follow instructions. All statements are subject to a review and verification. Any applicant intentionally giving false information or withholding information will be disqualified.
The applicant information sheet may be completed by typewriter or legibly printed in ink. If the space provided is insufficient, provide the necessary information on a separate piece of paper. You must indicate the question being responded to and more then one answer may be put on the same sheet.
All applicants must submit a photocopy of their driver's license and social security card.
All applicants must submit copies of their college transcripts to the department as well as a photocopy of their high school diploma.
All waivers must be signed and notarized.
Resume and cover letters are mandatory.
Incomplete applications i.e. failure to sign application, no notarization, return of any requested information, releases of information authorization, or discovery waivers will result in your application not being considered.
Note: You are discouraged from contacting the Department to check on the status of your application. A letter will be mailed to you within 45 days of receipt of your application either giving a conditional offer of employment or notice of rejection. A conditional offer is not a guarantee of employment. Appointment will be contingent on passing (1) a comprehensive background investigation to determine your suitability for police employment; (2) certification from a health care provider that you can physically perform the duties of a police officer; (3) an Oral Board interview (4) selection by the Chief of Police; and (5) appointment to the position by the Board of Selectmen.
OBPD_Job_Application.pdf
Minimum criteria is as follows:
Must be 21 years old.
Minimum education requirement: Associates Degree or its quarter hour credit equivalent from an accredited university.
No felony convictions.
Committed to becoming a resident of Marthas Vineyard within 6 months of hiring and
Be in good health and physical condition.
Full Time Police Academy Preferred.
A detailed resume and letter of intent can be sent to Executive Assistant Suzanne Cioffi, Oak Bluffs Police Department, P.O. Box 1504, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557. Phone inquiries are discouraged, as all applicants will receive a detailed employment package.
The Town of Oak Bluffs is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.
The Oak Bluffs Police Department, a community oriented progressive police department on the island of Marthas Vineyard seeks to hire Summer Special Police Officers for the 2012 summer season.
Basic Requirements for Special Police Officer:
21 Years old
U.S. Citizen
No criminal convictions
Good Driving record
Associates Degree, 2 years of college or military experience
MPTC reserve intermittent academy required
Certification in CPR/First Responder
Ability to obtain a Massachusetts Drivers License
Current salary is $14.45 and $16.26 per hour with overtime and detail opportunities.
Completed applications can be mailed to the Oak Bluffs Police Department, Post Office Box 1504 Oak Bluffs, MA 02557 Attention: Executive Assistant Suzanne Cioffi.
The Oak Bluffs Police Department is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer.
The Oak Bluffs Police Department, a community oriented progressive police department on the island of Marthas Vineyard seeks to hire Parking and Traffic Officers for the 2012 Summer Season. Parking and Traffic Officers are responsible for the safe and orderly flow of traffic in the downtown and harbor area and enforcement of hourly and other parking regulations.
Minimum Requirements:
18 Years old
No Criminal Convictions
Certification in CPR/First Responder.
Current Salary is $14.45 and 16.26 per hour
Completed applications can be mailed to the Oak Bluffs Police Department, Post Office Box 1504, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557, Attention: Executive Assistant Suzanne Cioffi.
The Town of Oak Bluffs is a resort town on the northeast shore of the island of Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts. Originally incorporated in 1880 as Cottage City, in 1907 the town’s name was changed because of the growth in the year round population and the changing face of the resort required an acknowledgement the town was not just “Cottage City” anymore.
The renaming marked the coalescence of all the elements that make Oak Bluffs unique as an oceanfront resort and distinguish its character in relation to the other Island towns.
With its diversity and density of population and the tradition of being the site of institutions that serve the Island-wide community, Oak Bluffs has proven itself to be the innovator in response to changing trends and conditions in the society at large.
Oak Bluffs is home to many historical and nationally recognized landmarks. Located at the foot of Circuit Ave, the Flying Horse Carousel is the nation’s oldest operating platform carousel. It is one of the two known carousels built by Charles W. F. Dare in 1876. In 1884, the Flying Horses were brought to Martha’s Vineyard; this treasured carousel has been enjoyed by Vineyarders and visitor for more than a century. The Martha’s Vineyard Camp Meeting Association, located in the center of Town offers a unique experience for visitors. Consisting of hundreds of imaginative and colorful gingerbread cottages containing the most perfectly preserved collection of Carpenter Gothic style architecture in the world. These truly unique Victorian “gingerbread” cottages are just a stone’s throw from the famed Tabernacle.
Oak Bluffs operates the largest marina on Martha’s Vineyard, which not only has the most slips, but is situated in the midst of the historic gingerbread campgrounds, and offers easy access to the rest of the Island. “OB”, as it is sometimes referred to, also is home to several beautiful public beaches, a teaming shore of wildlife, fish and shellfish, fabulous public parks, a golf course and even a microbrewery.
In modern times Oak Bluffs has come to terms with all of the strands in its past. Oak Bluffs has experienced simultaneous development of a secular seaside resort, and the continuation of a religious summer revival. Today, an active downtown is complete with exciting restaurants, charming inns, shops, and galleries, a variety of specialty food shops, movie theatres, and places to enjoy live entertainment and dancing.
