Burlington Police Chief Browne was before the Select Board requesting approval for a new officer to join the Burlington Police Department as well as to appoint two recently retired officers to Special Police Officers.
The new full-time police officer James Dawson comes from the New Jersey State Police and holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology. Dawson is set to begin with the BPD on January 20.Â
The two retired officers, Officer Harry Sawyer and Detective Keith Sheppard, were being requested for the position of Special Police Officer.
Officer Sawyer started with the Burlington police in 1988 and has served for 37 years. He was with the Northeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council (NEMLEC) Regional Response Team and was a SWAT Team Member. Officer Sawyer served as Senior Patrol Officer with the Burlington Police since January of 2021.Â
Retired Detective Keith Sheppard became full time with the department in 1998 serving 26 years with the BPD. Det. Sheppard was a DARE officer, a Transitional Community Services Officer, the Scheduling Officer, a School Resource Officer at Marshall Simonds Middle School and eventually assigned as the Youth Services Detective at Burlington High School.Â
The Select Board unanimously approved all three appointments.Â