About Us:

The Town of Oxford is located in south central Massachusetts, and is in the Worcester County. The town is mostly residential with single-family homes comprising most of the housing. Most farmland has been sold off into developments. There is some light industry and manufacturing located within an industrial park. Interstate Route 395, U.S. Route 20, and State Highway Routes 12 and 56 run through the town. The 1999 town census lists 13, 228 residents residing with a land size of 26. 7 square miles.

The Oxford Police Department is comprised of eighteen Full Time Police Officers, of which four are Sergeants, One Investigator, and thirteen Patrolmen. There are an additional ten Permanent Intermittent Patrolmen, who are called upon to fill vacant shifts. There are also three Full Time Civilian Dispatchers and five part time Dispatchers.

The appointment of officers are governed by Mass. General Laws Chapter 31 (Civil Service), thus all full time officers are appointed from the list of permanent intermittent officers.

Currently, officers work a 4 & 2 schedule (four days on, two days off). Each of the three shifts, 1st shift 7a to 3p, 2nd shift 3p to 11p, and 3rd shift 11p to 7a, have a Sergeant and three or four Patrolmen assigned. One Sergeant is assigned as the Court Officer.

The department has eight marked cruisers, two unmarked cruisers and one motorcycle. The marked patrol cruisers are equipped with mobile data computers capable of acquiring data from the state computer system of vehicle, driver, and wanted persons information. The department field's bicycle and foot patrols, primarily in the town's center, in an effort to reduce minor problems and to improve the quality of life for residents and transients.

Criminal activity in Oxford is low, primarily due to an active patrol force aggressively enforcing motor vehicle laws. While not every traffic stop results in a written citation, the identification of motor vehicle operators reduces the opportunity for crime to occur.

Administrative functions are handled through a full time Records Clerk. Requests for police reports, payroll, purchasing, and records retention are the responsibility of the Records Clerk. Most requests for copies of police reports are handled immediately.

As the Town continues to grow, through increased single family and apartment development, the demand for police service will increase. The challenge for all members of the department is to provide the level of service that the community has grown to expect, within the limits of the budget.