Amherst Police Department (Official)

06/06/2026

Last Saturday was the Cops and Bobbers / Hooks and Ladders, Fishing Derby. While the weather was a bit rainy, the day was still great! 🎣

06/03/2026

Vacant House Checks:
Going away on vacation? In the hospital? Spending an extended period away from home? The Amherst Police Department offers a free Vacant House Check Program for residents who would like the added peace of mind of knowing officers are watching their property while they’re away.

What Is the Vacant House Check Program?
When you submit a request, your property is added to a department-wide list during the dates you’ll be away. Officers in your sector will conduct periodic exterior checks of the property during your absence. The program serves to deter criminal activity, identify property issues early, and strengthen the partnership between the department and the community we serve. This is a community service offered free of charge to Amherst residents.

>>> Please go to our website to complete the form or gather more information: https://amherstpd.org/3920/Vacant-House-Checks

06/02/2026

Captain Young instructing at Fitchburg State University Police Program/Police Academy

06/02/2026

Registration reminder! Registration closes July 1

06/01/2026

‼️ NEW SPEED LIMIT on Northampton Rd: 35 MPH

After a traffic study was completed, the Town requested that MassDOT change the speed limits on Northampton Rd between University Drive and South Pleasant Street. The MassDOT has accepted the request and has changed the signage to reflect the new speed limit of 35 MPH. This is a decrease from the previous 40 mph zone. The goal is to increase safety on this roadway.

“The District Traffic Section of MassDOT has completed a speed zoning study for the requested section of Route 9 within the Town of Amherst, East of University Drive, to the intersection of South Pleasant Street (approx. 0.7 miles). This investigation included spot speeds, trial runs, a review of roadway geometry and sight distances, and a review of the accident history on this roadway.”

05/28/2026

05/28/2026

Every year, our K-9 teams must re-certify to make sure that their skills are still top notch. Our K-9 handlers and their four legged partners spent last week at the Massachusetts Police Work Dog Association training work shop. During the week, our K-9s, Marvin and Mojo, again both successfully completed their National certification through the North American Police Work Dog Association (NAPWDA )

Marvin and Mojo were required to test and certify in the following areas for “patrol work”: obedience, evidence searches, area searches, building searches, aggression control and tracking. For Marvin’s secondary specialty he was required to test in building drug hides, vehicle drug hides (interior and exterior), locker drug hides. Mojo was required to test in explosive and firearm detection in building, motor vehicle, luggage and open area for his secondary specialty.

They both put in 100% effort and obtained the “Police Utility Dog Title” - this means they aced all their exams on the first attempt!

They also participated in a bonus workshop on K9 first side, which was put on by the staff at Veterinary Specialty Center of Sturbridge ( ).Just as Officer Wellness matters for our human officers, it is equally as important for our four legged K-9 officers.

📸: Thank you to Tracy Joy and ( ) Britany from Blueline jars ( ) for the amazing photographs.

05/25/2026

Amherst officers were present at the annual Memorial Day ceremony to honor those who lost their lives while serving our country. Even though the ceremony was moved indoors due to rain, many community members still came to pay their respects to our fallen heroes 🇺🇸

05/13/2026

A few weeks ago’s Drug Take-back Day was a success as always: There was a total of 2,001 pounds collected from the participating agencies.

05/13/2026

Mental Health Awareness Month: the Amherst Police take multiple calls a day that are related to mental health. If you or someone you know are experiencing a mental health crisis, we want you to be assured that we have the training and experience to help.

We have two CSO clinicians on our staff who often respond with officers. They are both available for calls and their office number is listed above.



Read more about our CIT officers and co-responding clinicians, here: https://www.amherstma.gov/2260/Crisis-Intervention-Team

From NAMI’s website:

“Stigma grows in silence. Healing begins in community. Mental Health Awareness Month provides a chance to stand with your community and show that no one struggles alone. NAMI’s 2026 Mental Health Awareness Month theme invites everyone to join NAMI in speaking up against mental health stigma.

Turning Silence Into Connection, By sharing our lived experiences, learning from each other’s experiences, and building strong community connections, we can challenge stigma and create spaces where people are supported, understood, and find healing.

Every story shared turns silence into connection, and connection into healing. Together, we can strengthen communities and create opportunities for empathy, understanding, and meaningful change.”