SEMLEC Mourns the Death of Search and Rescue Hero John Borges

Officer John Borges (Left) was SEMLEC's "Go-To" Person for Search and Rescue Operations and Strategies and he was responsible for locating countless missing persons during his career, often working long hours past his shift without putting in for overtime.
Officer John Borges (Left) was SEMLEC's "Go-To" Person for Search and Rescue Operations and Strategies and he was responsible for locating countless missing persons during his career, often working long hours past his shift without putting in for overtime.
Officer John Borges (Left) was SEMLEC’s “Go-To” Person for Search and Rescue Operations and Strategies and he was responsible for locating countless missing persons during his career, often working long hours past his shift without putting in for overtime.

TAUNTON — The Southeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council (SEMLEC) joins the entire emergency responder community in mourning the death of Taunton Police Officer John Borges, who died Dec. 24 at age 49 after battling COVID-19.

Somerset Police Chief George McNeil, the control chief and head of the SEMLEC Search and Rescue Unit (SAR) recalled Officer Borges as the “glue” that held the team together and one of the region’s preeminent experts on search techniques.

“Officer Borges worked the midnight to 8 a.m. shift, and when there was an active search for missing person, he would regularly stay past his shift and continue to work, on his own time. He didn’t even put in for overtime,” Chief McNeil said. “I have been a police officer for 34 years, and I learned new things every time I worked with Officer Borges. He was excellent at his job–the job of finding lost people.”

Officer Borges was one of the founding members of SEMLEC SAR in 2003 and remained on the team through multiple control chiefs and leadership charges in Southern Massachusetts. He possessed a wealth of knowledge on missing persons cases. He was a search and rescue instructor who trained other first responders in the region, including state officials and first responders around the nation. He was also an expert and instruction in Incident Command Systems (ICS).

Chief McNeil recalled a case from 2009 in which a man went missing during a particularly cold night. There was a language barrier with the man’s family, as they only spoke Portuguese. Officer Borges was fluent in Portuguese and was able to bridge the communications gap with the family, an essential task that helped lead rescuers in the right direction. They found the man and reunited him with his family. 

“We were involved in many searches together, and when SEMLEC deployed for a search and rescue mission, the people of Southeastern Massachusetts could count on Officer Borges to be there, coordinating the effort to find a loved one,” Chief McNeil said. “He made our communities safer.”

According to the Officer Down Memorial Page, nearly 180 police officers have died of COVID-19 in the U.S. this year. These are people who cannot abide by stay at home advisories and cannot always be socially distant.

About SEMLEC:
We are a mutual aid consortium comprised of resources from the police departments of 30 cities and towns. We respond when requested by a chief of police to assist with search and rescue, special events, or major crimes. We also draw on some of the most talented police officers in the region to form the SEMLEC SWAT Team, which deploys when needed to save lives and protect the citizens of southeastern Massachusetts.
Our members are all sworn police officers from one of the 30 member communities. Our units respond only when called by one of the 30 chiefs of police in our region.

To learn more about SEMLEC, click here.

 

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Photo: Taunton Police and SEMLEC Search and Rescue Searching for Missing 14-Year-Old Taunton Boy

Photo: Taunton Police and SEMLEC Search and Rescue Searching for Missing 14-Year-Old Taunton Boy

South Eastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council

Search and Rescue

Activated Under the Local Control of the Taunton Police Department, Edward James Walsh Chief of Police and Led by Control Chief George M. McNeil of the Somerset Police Department

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, Dec 20, 2018

Media Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

Photo: SEMLEC Search and Rescue Searching for Missing 14-Year-Old Taunton Boy

TAUNTON — Chief Edward James Walsh reports that the Taunton Police Department has activated the Southeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council (SEMLEC) Search and Rescue Unit. Police and other rescuers are searching for a missing East Taunton boy who is believed to be in danger.

Zachary Halloran is a 14-year-old male, 5’4″ tall, weighing 115 lbs.. He has black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen leaving the Rowley Avenue area on foot and is believed to be carrying a backpack. He is believed to be wearing a dark colored shirt and/or jacket, as well as dark sweatpants.

The SEMLEC Search and Rescue Unit is actively searching for Zachary at this time, and first responders from around the region have joined the effort to provide mutual aid to Taunton.

Anyone with information regarding Zachary’s whereabouts is urged to contact the Taunton Police Department at 508-823-5000.

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SEMLEC SWAT Officer Seriously Injured During Training

Middleborough Police Officer Seriously Injured During SEMLEC SWAT Training in Bridgewater

BRIDGEWATER – Southeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council SWAT Unit Control Chief (Raynham Police Chief) James Donovan, Bridgewater Police Chief Christopher Delmonte, and Middleborough Police Chief Joseph Perkins regret to report that a Middleborough Police Officer was seriously injured Wednesday morning during a regional police training exercise in Bridgewater.

Bridgewater Police and Fire received a 911 call shortly after 11 a.m. from a member of SEMLEC SWAT requesting an ambulance for an officer who sustained a hand injury during a training program on the exterior grounds of MCI Bridgewater.

Upon arrival, rescuers found a Middleborough Police Officer with a serious wound to one of his hands. The officer was treated at the scene and transported by Bridgewater Fire Department Ambulance to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston with injuries that are not believed to be life-threatening.

A preliminary investigation by the Bridgewater Police Department indicates that the officer, whose name is not being released, was using a 37 mm projectile launcher loaded with training rounds to aid in the SWAT training exercise when the device exploded in his hands. At this time, investigators believe that the device malfunctioned.

While not carried by officers in the normal course of their duties, the 37mm launcher is used for a variety of SWAT operations including smoke screens, high visibility flares, decoy noisemaker rounds, “Flash Bang” style stun grenades, and training rounds that emit smoke and/or noise.

“The officer was conducting high-level training as a member of our region’s vital SWAT unit when what appears to be a terrible accident occurred that left him with serious injuries,” Chief Perkins said. “We wish our officer all the best as he receives treatment for his wounds.”

This incident remains under investigation by the Bridgewater Police Department.

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Police Investigating Email Threat Against Wareham Schools

South Eastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council

SWAT Team

Under the Local Control of the:

Wareham Police Department

Police Chief Kevin D. Walsh

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, July 10, 2017

Media Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

Police Investigating Email Threat Against Wareham Schools

Mutual Aid Requested, Under Direction of the Wareham Police Department

WAREHAM — Police Chief Kevin D. Walsh reports that there is a police presence at Wareham Public Schools today due to an anonymous email threat received earlier in the day.

Earlier Monday, an administrator received an anonymous email from an individual threatening to harm others.

Out of an abundance of caution, Wareham High School, Wareham Middle School, and the Minot Forest Elementary School, all of which had summer school and other educational activities occurring today, have been evacuated and are being searched by police.

Under the command and direction of Chief Walsh, the South Eastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council SWAT Team has been activated, and Wareham is also receiving mutual aid support from the Cape Cod Law Enforcement Council SWAT Team and the Massachusetts State Police STOP Team.

The mutual aid request has sent a large quantity of police resources to assist Wareham, including Raynham Police Chief James Donovan, who reports to Chief Walsh as the SEMLEC SWAT Commander.

Students and school officials are being transported to the Gleason Family YMCA, located at 33 Charge Pond Road in Wareham, where students will be released to their parents or guardians.

“We understand that the large police presence may be alarming to some, but our number one priority is that the children and school officials are safe, and we do not take any chances when it comes to that,” Chief Walsh said. “I want to thank everyone in the community for their support and patience as we conduct a thorough search of the schools, and I am grateful for the tremendous mutual aid network in south eastern Massachusetts that allows our department to temporarily grow in size and scope to address this incident.”

At this time, there is no reason to believe that there is any danger to the community, however these actions are necessary to ensure the safety and security of all.

Members of the media are advised that they will not be allowed on school property. A media staging area has been established at the former Tremont Nail Company. Any media availabilities by police will occur at that location.

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