The following divisions and units make up the Fairhaven Police Department:
- Patrol Division
- Detective Division
- Domestic Violence Division
- Communications Division
- Motorcycle Unit
- Marine Unit
- Honor Guard
- School Resource Officers
- Firearms Licensing
Uniform Patrol Division
The uniform patrol division is the largest division within the police department. Patrol officers are responsible for responding to all requests for services received by the Fairhaven Police Communications Center.
Patrol officers responded to 17,104 calls for service in 2019. They responded to 562 motor vehicle crashes and stopped 2,432 vehicles for traffic violations.
The patrol division is comprised of 1 Lieuteanant, 5 sergeants and 20 patrol officers. There is a minimum of 1 sergeant and 3 officers assigned to uniform patrol at any given time of the day or night.
Patrol supervisors are Lieutenant David Sobral, Sergeants Michael Bouvier, Timothy Souza, Kevin Swain, Daniel Dorgan, and Scott Gordon.
Administrative Sergeant/Patrol Sergeant: Timothy Souza
Uniform patrol officers are, by necessity, generalists. They are required to respond to calls ranging from parking complaints to homicides. They must be prepared to make quick and uniformed decisions at any type of emergency.
Many officers have also received specialized training and certificates to aid the patrol division in providing quality police services to the community. Within the patrol division, there are officers who are certified as armorers, advanced crash investigators, child safety seat technicians, drug recognition and instructors in C.P.R., internet safety, D.A.R.E., field sobriety testing and infrared breath testing.
Detective Division
The Detective Division is responsible for investigating all violent. property and drug crimes along with conducting investigations into any matter directed by the Chief of Police or the Detective Commanding Officer.
The Detective Division is commanded by Sgt. Matthew Botelho and includes Detectives Jerald Bettencourt, Glenn Cudmore, Janis Guerreiro, and Marc Darmofal.
Detective Guerreiro’s duties also include that of department Domestic Violence and Elder Protection officer. A major priority of the Division is investigating the distribution of illegal drugs in the community.
In recognition that drugs are a regional problem, the Division is a member of South Eastern Law Enforcement Council (SEMLEC) and works closely with, the South Coast Anti-Crime Task Force.
Residents with information on drug or other illegal or suspicious activity are encouraged to call our TIP line at 508-979-4100 or send an email to the Detective Division.
Requests for anonymity will be respected.
Domestic Violence Unit
If you or anyone you know is a victim of domestic violence, help is available. Right here. Right now. Click the below links for further information.
But if your need for help is immediate, please call 911.
Domestic Violence Literature
- About Domestic Violence and the Unit
- Domestic Violence Awareness
- Domestic Violence in the Workplace
- Domestic Violence and its effect on Children
Communications
The communications and dispatch department is a multi-function, fast-paced environment staffed by 5 highly trained civilian department employees. They work in a state-of-the-art communications room and have ready access to information from local, state and federal law enforcement agencies. They handle all incoming requests for service from the citizens of Fairhaven as well as serving as the communications life-line to the police units in the field
Motorcycle Unit
The Fairhaven Police Department owns two Harley-Davidson police motorcycles which are used for traffic control and enforcement and for special events.
Detective Marc Darmofal and Officer Laurie Cannon are assigned to the unit.
The Fairhaven Police Department operates the oldest continuously working police motorcycle in the North East part of the United States, a 1978 Harley Davidson Electra Glide, obtained new in 1978 via a state grant. Special thanks goes to Jerry’s Auto and Cycle Service and Artistic Auto Body of Fairhaven, which donated hundreds of hours to restore the motorcycle and keep it operational.
Marine Unit
Six officers are assigned to the Marine Unit.
The unit is commanded by Capt. Michael Botelho and includes
Detective Sergeant Matthew Botelho, Sergeant Scott Gordon, Detective Marc Darmofal and Patrol Officer Kevin Chasse. Chief Michael Myers is also part of the Marine Unit. All members of the Marine Unit are proud to hold Coast Guard certified Captain’s Licenses.
The boat is used for routine harbor and shoreline patrols during the summer months as well as for search, rescue and recovery operations when called upon. Fairhaven has over 17 miles of coast line and the Marine Unit works closely with surrounding jurisdictions including the United States Coast Guard, Mattapoisett, New Bedford, Dartmouth and the Buzzards Bay Task Force, as well as the Fairhaven Fire Department and the Fairhaven Harbor Master to enforce local waterway laws and regulations.
Honor Guard
The Fairhaven Police Honor Guard, under the command of Sgt. Michael Bouvier (below, right), represents the department at funerals, parades and other special events.
Other members of the the Honor Guard are Officer Edward Riggs, Officer Scott Gordon, Sergeant Daniel Dorgan, Officer James Bettencourt, Officer Jerald Bettencourt, Officer Marcy Haaland, Officer Michael Carrette, Officer Jerome Penha, and Officer Chris Beauregard.
School Resource Officers
Officer Scott Joseph and Officer Jerome Penha are the Fairhaven Police Department School Resource Officers assigned to Fairhaven High School and Hasting’s Middle School respectively.
The SRO program has been highly successful. It has been acclaimed by administration, faculty, students and parents. The SROs work proactively by conducting anti-bullying and alcohol and drug use prevention programs. They provide security at the high school and middle school and develop and update crises management plans for all schools. The SROs are trained to recognize signs of home or dating violence in students and have been instrumental in ending the cycle of violence in which some female students found themselves.
The SRO program is the one program that allows us to work proactively with youth in an attempt to stop unsatisfactory behavior before it reaches the need for criminal sanctions.
S.R.O. Activities
- Provide daily security in High and Middle Schools
- Provide a forum for school and police officials to share information and explore avenues for troubled youths.
- Intervene to break up fights between students
- Remove unruly or out of control students
- Investigate harassment and bullying complaints brought by administration, students and parents
- Investigate drug cases in school
- Develop and periodically update school crises and emergency plans
- Performed scores of criminal investigations of crimes committed in schools or reported to school personnel by
students including rapes, assaults, sexual assaults, vandalism, domestic abuse, etc. - Organize periodic K-9 drug sweeps
- Work with and monitor students who are placed on probation
- Give students a less intimidating avenue in which they can come and speak with a police officer in his office at school
- Participate in crises management team and student services support team
- Introduced anti-bullying program
- Conduct residency investigations
- Member of school anti-drug task force
- Conduct classes after school such as CPR, First Aid and Babysitting Basics
- Monitor students who have been involved in domestic or dating violence including monitoring compliance with
court issued domestic violence restraining orders
Firearms Licensing/Sex Offender Information
The Firearms Licensing Division is responsible for all firearms licensing issues from renewals and changes of address for Firearms Owner Identification cards to new applications for licenses to carry concealed weapons. This office is also tasked with the responsibility handling all sex offender information for the department. All requests for sex offender information and all sex offender registrants are handled here by Captain Michael Botelho.
For questions or requests for information regarding sex offenders you can email michael.botelho@fairhavenpolice.org
For questions regarding firearms license information contact: kevin.kobza@fairhavenpolice.org
You can download or read the relevant firearms information by clicking on the any of the forms listed below.
Firearms Licensing Documents
- Firearm Owner’s Identification Card Information
- Firearm Licensing Information
- Change of Address Form for FID holders
Reminder: Cash is not accepted as payment for Firearms Licenses. Please pay with check or money order payable to “Town of Fairhaven”.
