Officials Talk About Joining Police Mutual Aid Group NEMLEC

The large-scale law enforcement search in Watertown for at-large bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev on April 19 brought to mind whether Swampscott should join the regional police response group NEMLEC, the town administrator said.

Town Administrator Tom Younger told selectmen on Wednesday that the perimeter set up and house-to-house search — a 20-block effort — in Watertown isn't something that a single police department such as Swampscott could do.

He said he plans to continue talks with Swampscott Police Chief Ron Madigan about joining the North East Law Enforcement Council, a regional law enforcement mutual aid group.

He said membership would help the town respond to hostage situations, kidnapping and other serious disturbances.

Selectmen's Chairman Rich Malagrifa said he has always thought Swampscott should be part of NEMLEC.

It remains to be seen whether the town will move ahead with NEMLEC membership or even what it would need to do to authorize membership.

Unlike fire department mutual aid agreements, NEMLEC draws on specific officers.

The Swampscott officers would be trained for their role in the regional group, if Swampscott was to join.

NEMLEC has 51 police and two sheriffs departments in Middlesex County and Essex County.

NEMLEC has about 3,000 police officers and over 700 sheriff's deputies, and its specialized units include S.W.A.T (Special Weapons and Tactics), STARS (School Threat Assessment/Response System) and RRT (Regional Response Team).

NEMLEC incorporated a nonprofit in 1969.

According to the North Reading police website, Burlington, North Reading, Reading, Stoneham, Wakefield, Wilmington, Winchester, and Woburn police chiefs came together during the turbulent social and political struggles in the 1960s, when police departments were experiencing an increase in crime.