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A community drop-in program to raise awareness of substance abuse warnings.

Open to 21+

Do you know what’s in your teen’s room?

This interactive exhibit will open your eyes!

Learn how to identify risky behavior

Join us to explore the room, ask questions and be challenged.

Winchester Room, Town Hall

Tuesday, October 27 through Friday, November, 6

11/2 8 AM – 11 AM
11/3 7 PM – 9 PM
11/4 11 AM – 2 PM
11/5 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM
11/6 8 AM – 10 AM

Photo credit: Akron Children’s Hospital

The Winchester Police Department will undergo its triennial assessment for re-accreditation on Monday 11/2/15, Wednesday 11/4/15 and Thursday 11/5/15.   The assessment is conducted by the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission and involves a tour of our operations and compliance with over three hundred mandatory and optional policy standards.  If a member of the public has any questions regarding the accreditation process, please contact Lt. Peter MacDonnell, Sgt. Joe Abdella or Sgt. Ed Donohue

Matthew McAveeney was captured in Belmont North Carolina and charged with being a fugitive from justice.  McAveeney will be transported back to Massachusetts and charged with  murder and other offenses related to the death of his mother, Barbara McAveeney at the Parkview Condominiums.

The Winchester Police Department would like to thank all agencies involved with the investigation and capture of McAveeney including the Massachusetts State Police and Belmont North Carolina Police Department.

Matthew McAveeney

Investigation Began After Feb. 2014 Heroin Death, Police May Seek Additional Charges

WINCHESTER — Police Chief Kenneth C. Albertelli announces that a pair of local brothers have been arrested and charged after a lengthy investigation that started in February with the overdose death of a Quincy man.

TIMOTHY SALVATORE SABBAG, AGE 24 OF JAMES STREET IN WINCHESTER has been charged with the following:

• Distribution of a Class A Substance (Heroin)
• Distribution of a Class C Substance (Diazepam)
• Distribution of a Class D Substance (Marijuana)
• Possession of a Class A Substance with Intent to Distribute (Heroin)
• Possession of a Class C Substance with Intent to Distribute (Diazepam)
• Possession of a Class D Substance with Intent to Distribute (Marijuana)
• Conspiracy to violate the Controlled Substance Act

Police are also working with the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office and may also seek additional charges in connection with the February overdose death.

His younger brother, NICHOLAS ROBERT SABBAG, AGE 18, ALSO OF JAMES STREET IN WINCHESTER has been charged with the following:

• Distribution of a Class C Substance (Diazepam)
• Conspiracy to Violate the Controlled Substance Act

“Today we are seeing the results of extremely hard work by the Winchester Police Department and our partner agencies,” Chief Albertelli said. “The amazing level of cooperation that exists among municipal and regional law enforcement groups helped this case come together, and a pair of drug dealers won’t be selling their poison in our community anymore.”
The arrests came after an investigation by Winchester Police, with the assistance of the Southern Middlesex Regional Drug Task Force, which acts as a force multiplier by bringing in personnel and resources from a variety of local and regional agencies under the command of Winchester PD.

The investigation began in February after a 25-year-old Quincy man died of a heroin overdose while in his motor vehicle in Winchester. Police reviewed the victim’s phone records and text messages and determined that he had allegedly communicated with TIMOTHY SABBAG via text message less than an hour before he died. In fact, text message records showed that the victim allegedly met with TIMOTHY SABBAG just 12 minutes before the victim called 911 and was found, unresponsive, minutes later.

A detailed investigation followed, using resources from a number of police agencies, through the regional task force, which ultimately led to police arresting TIMOTHY SABBAG in a parking lot in Winchester on Friday, July 11, 2014 and then immediately executing a search warrant of his home.

Searching the home, police found thousands of dollars in cash, a large quantity of marijuana, diazepam/Valium pills, lorazepam/Ativan pills, a quantity of heroin, a scale, plastic bags, and other drug paraphernalia. NICHOLAS SABBAG was arrested at the home.

Winchester has experienced two confirmed overdose deaths so far in 2014. Heroin and opioid overdoses are a major problem in communities around the country. In March, Governor Deval Patrick declared it to be a Public Health Crisis.

“It is not enough to simply arrest drug dealers for dealing drugs. In this instance, our investigation showed that Timothy Sabbag sold heroin to a man minutes before he died of a heroin overdose,” Chief Albertelli said. “We need to hold these people accountable for not just the lives that they ruin, but also the lives that their products end.”

Timothy Sabbag

Nicholas Sabbag

John Guilfoil Public Relations LLC
1 Westinghouse Plaza
Unit 315
Boston, MA 02136
617-993-0003

The Winchester Police Department and the Winchester Coalition for a Safer Community is launching tip411, an internet based tool that enables the public to text message an anonymous tip to police, and lets the police respond back creating a two way anonymous “chat”.

Reserved exclusively for Public Safety purposes and powered by CitizenObserver, a St. Paul MN company, tip411 puts a powerful new crime fighting tool into the hands of our community for all ages and demographics.  tip411 is a national program that benefits over 1000 communities around the county.

Anyone with a cell phone can now send an anonymous tip to Winchester Police by texting the word Winchester and the tip information to 847411 (tip411).

Anonymous web tips can also be submitted right from the Police Department’s website at www.winchesterpd.org (look under CONTACT)  or from the direct link at http://www.citizenobserver.com/cov6/app/webTipForm.html?id=10750

Its 100% anonymous. CitizenObserver’s technology removes all identifying information before the Winchester Police Department see’s it so there’s no way to identify the sender.

The tip line is not intended for emergencies.  If you want to notify police of an emergency, dial 911.

About CitizenObserver
CitizenObserver, a St. Paul, MN company founded in 2000, provides web based alerting tools to law enforcement, education, and public safety agencies in over 40 states.

The Winter Parking Ban is an effect.  Vehicles parked on the street between 1:00 AM and 7:00 AM are subject to fines.  Any vehicles parked on the street during a snow emergency may be fined and towed.

Wednesday, September 4th is the first day of school for Winchester students.  Please drive safely and park legally!

The Cambridge Police Department arrested Vincent Ghetti, 51 of Boston after an altercation with a citizen in their city.  The investigation into the altercation revealed that Ghetti possessed several pieces of stolen property.  The property was stolen from a Winchester residence on the same day.  Ghetti was charged by Cambridge Police with receiving stolen property.   Ghetti is being charged by Winchester Police for breaking and entering and larceny.

Vincent Ghetti

The Winchester Police Relief Association fundraiser has begun.  Unfortunately, scams do exist where people not involved with the relief association attempt to take advantage of unsuspecting individuals wishing to make a contribution.  The relief association would like to take this opportunity to announce that our fundraiser has begun and will continue through mid April.  If you do wish to contribute, please be certain to make checks payable to Winchester Police Relief Association. One option to contribute is to leave your donation taped to your door or mailbox for one of our solicitors to pick up.   If you don’t feel comfortable leaving a check for one of our solicitors, you can mail it to 30 Mt. Vernon Street, Winchester MA 01890 or drop it off at the police station.  If you have any questions or concerns, contact Relief Association President, Officer Stephen Palmer at (781) 729 -1214.