By Joan F. Simoneau, Community Reporter
Hudson – Many Hudson residents are learning about the local Police Department and its operation at meetings held at the Senior Center presented by Police Chief Michael D. Burks Sr.
In the meetings, Burks gives an informal presentation and addresses questions and comments from all in attendance.
“It gives me a chance to listen to their concerns and hopefully give an update of the issues the police department is dealing with,” he said.
At a recent meeting he stressed that new technology is being incorporated into existing programs which provide quicker results in many areas. Calls received regularly vary from urgency by someone seemingly in potential danger to reports of drivers speeding in a residential location. One resident urged that more attention be directed to the bike path which she uses, asking that “they educate the younger people on their rules in that area.”
“Since the chief started speaking at the Senior Center last May he has been very popular,” said Virginia Figueiredo, administrative secretary at the Senior Center. “He comes every other month and is always well received.”
Burks has been a Hudson Police Officer for more than 32 years. He joined the department in 1986 as a reserve officer. In 1987 he was appointed to a full-time patrolman, working as an undercover narcotics officer for a number of regional task forces. In 1997 he became a detective where he investigated major crimes and followed up on cases generated by the patrol officers. During that time he also served as the department’s evidence officer.
In 1998 he was promoted to police sergeant, overseeing patrol units and managing the department’s computer and IT systems and also served as an internal affairs investigator. He was promoted to police lieutenant in 2004, in charge of the Cyber Crimes Unit that he established and developed. He also supervised the Youth Safety and School Resource Officers as well as administrating the E911 Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) and the Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) for the Hudson Police Department. He was promoted to captain in 2012 and appointed chief in 2015.
For more information on his sessions at the senior center call 978-568-9638. The center is located at 29 Church St.
