Archive for May, 2021

The Winchester Police Department is warning residents of a scam that targets elderly grandparents.

How it Works:

An elder receives a phone call from an unfamiliar number

The scammer, who usually identifies himself as a lawyer , informs the elder that their grandchild is in jail, usually for injuring a victim in  a car accident and the grandchild needs bail money. A variation is the scammer pretends to be the grandchild and asks directly for the bail money.

The lawyer instructs the elder to respond to their bank and withdraw several thousand dollars in cash for bail money.

The scammer informs the elder that a court official or courier will come to their home to pick up the bail money.

The scammer could also request the money be wired to them and will assist with instructions on that process.

Strategies:

Hang up on the caller

Don’t withdraw any money

Report the call to a trusted family member and the police.

Be aware of this scam and variations of it.

Chief O’Connell is pleased to announce that a team of assessors from the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission is scheduled to arrive on June 15,2021, to begin examining various aspects of the Winchester Police Department’s policies and procedures, operations and facilities.  

Verification by the Assessment Team that the Department meets the Commission’s standards is part of a voluntary process to gain state Accreditation — a self-initiated evaluation process by which police departments strive to meet and maintain standards that have been established for the profession, for the profession.

Achieving Accreditation is a highly prized recognition of law enforcement professional excellence.  Anyone interested in learning more about this program is invited to call (Chief O’Connell or the Department’s Accreditation Manager Sergeant Ed Donohue).