'Credible Threat' Warning Issued That Gangs Might Target Police

The Baltimore Police Department has issue a national alert warning law enforcement agencies across the country, including Massachusetts, about a credible threat that gang members may be organizing to “take out” police officers.

The threat notification was issued earlier this morning and sent to the NLETS system. Police also requested media outlets share the information with the public.

The alert noted that the department’s Criminal Intelligence Unit had received “credible information that members of various gangs, including the Black Guerrilla Family, Bloods, and Crips, have entered into a partnership to ‘take-out’ law enforcement officers.”

The alert called the partnership “a credible threat” and advised that officers should take precautions to protect themselves.

Westborough Police Lieutenant Cara Rossi-Cafarelli on Monday said the department takes all threats against law enforcement very seriously, and that police are always prepared.

“Every member of law enforcement knows that at any moment while performing their duties, their life could be in danger,” said Lt. Cara Rossi-Cafarelli. “We train for, and prepare ourselves, to protect others, knowing that it could be with our lives. This is the oath we take and the price we are willing to pay.”

Lt. Rossi-Cafarelli said Natick police have not received any specific information specific to Massachusetts or Natick.

“We remain constantly vigilant and ask our residents and visitors to do the same,” she said. “We are fortunate in that we have a great rapport with the citizens of Natick and they continue to share with us the information that we need to do our job successfully. We ask that they continue to do so and assure them that we strive to make Natick the safest community that it can be for all of us.”

The unrest in Baltimore is due to the death of Freddie Gray, a 25-year-old man who died in police custody on April 19, 2015, after a spinal injury,which prompted anti-police brutality demonstrations and clashes with police.