Healey-Driscoll Administration Highlights Progress of 2025 Commonwealth Project Safe Neighborhood Initiative
District Attorneys, State Police, Local Departments, and Community Organizations Partner to Reduce Crime and Enhance Community Safety
BROCKTON – Today, at a public safety roundtable in Brockton led by Governor Maura Healey, the Healey-Driscoll Administration highlighted the measurable progress made through the 2025 Commonwealth Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN) Initiative. This roundtable marked the first in a series of statewide conversations where the administration will bring together local leaders, law enforcement, prosecutors and community partners to review crime data, elevate regional public safety success stories, and reinforce the importance of collaborative safety strategies.
During the roundtable, the administration commended the strong outcomes of the PSN Initiative, a multi-year public safety partnership between District Attorneys, Massachusetts State Police, municipal law enforcement agencies and community organizations statewide. Together, these partners are reducing violent crime, addressing illegal firearms and narcotics distribution, and investing in prevention programs that build stronger neighborhoods.
“When state and local law enforcement work together with strong engagement from District Attorneys and community partners, we get results,” said Governor Healey. “I commend Colonel Noble, the State Police, DAs and local law enforcement on their efforts to take dangerous individuals off the street and support the community programs that provide our at-risk youth with the opportunity for a better path. We are all safer because of these partnerships, and we are going to keep building on this progress together.”
“This initiative is a clear example of what can be achieved when we prioritize teamwork and focused engagement,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “By focusing resources on data-driven enforcement and crime prevention, we’re helping cities and towns address the challenges they face and build stronger, safer neighborhoods for all residents. We’re grateful to our law enforcement partners for their dedication.”
Launched to focus enforcement in areas where collaboration could have the greatest impact, the Commonwealth PSN Initiative invests state resources to bring state and local police together in joint operations targeting gang activity, firearm violations, narcotics distribution, and human trafficking. Specialized MSP units, including the Gang Unit, Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section, Community Action Teams, Detective Units, and the High-Risk Victim Squad, worked side-by-side with local departments in Boston, Brockton, Fall River, Holyoke, Lawrence, Lynn, Springfield, and other cities facing increased public safety challenges. The program also awards funds to District Attorney’s offices to support prosecutions of violent crime as well as prevention and diversion programming.
Following a comprehensive analysis of the FY25 program, the collaborative enforcement efforts between state and local police, supported by $925,000 in state grant funding, has resulted in nearly 500 arrests, the removal of more than 65 illegally possessed firearms, the seizure of nearly 30,000 grams of narcotics, and the recovery of more than $265,000 in suspected illicit proceeds. These measurable outcomes demonstrate the initiative’s progress in reducing violent crime, removing illegal firearms, disrupting drug trafficking networks, and supporting victims of human trafficking.
In addition to enforcement, the PSN Initiative directs significant resources to District Attorney’s Offices, which are required to dedicate at least 25 percent of their awards to prevention, intervention, and diversion programming. DAs work closely with community-based organizations to provide services such as recovery support, mentorship, youth engagement, and reentry programs. This dual approach ensures that prosecutions of violent offenders are matched with meaningful investments that address the root causes of violence and create safer, healthier pathways for residents. In FY25, District Attorney’s Offices were awarded more than $974,000 to support these proven approaches to community safety.
“The Commonwealth Project Safe Neighborhood Initiative highlights the importance of coordinated, data-driven enforcement strategies to disrupt violent crime and drug trafficking,” said Public Safety and Security Secretary Terrence Reidy. “We applaud the District Attorneys, State Police and our local partners for their continued commitment to strong partnerships and keeping our communities safe.”
Since its inception in 2023, the program has delivered nearly $3.8 million in state funding to effective address community safety issues. Intelligence analysts within the State Police Division of Investigative Services continue to monitor and evaluate results.
Regional highlights (January-June 2025) include:
Community | Arrests & Summons | Illegal Firearms Seized | Narcotics Seized & Additional Information |
Boston | 76 | 23 | Over 60% of arrests were firearm-related, more than 50% involved violent offenses, and approximately 17% were narcotics-related |
Brockton | 35 | 2 | 58 grams of fentanyl/heroin and 592 grams of cocaine/crack. Additionally, $12,000 in illicit proceeds were recovered. |
Fall River | 23 | 3 | 52 grams of fentanyl/heroin, 52.5 grams of cocaine/crack, and 46 grams of methamphetamine. |
Lawrence | 67 | 3 | 1,544.5 grams of fentanyl/heroin, 242 grams of cocaine/crack, and 531 grams of methamphetamine. Law enforcement also confiscated $18,392 in suspected illicit currency. |
Lynn | 56 | 1 | 15 grams of fentanyl/heroin, 1,061.5 grams of cocaine/crack, and 4 grams of methamphetamine. |
Holyoke | 86 | 1 | 39 grams of fentanyl/heroin and 107 grams of cocaine/crack. Authorities recovered $38,710 in currency linked to criminal activity. |
Springfield | 72 | 21 | 240 grams of fentanyl/heroin and 137.5 grams of cocaine/crack. Law enforcement also seized $99,631 in illicit currency. |
Since 2024, the Commonwealth PSN Initiative, administered through the Office of Grants and Research (OGR) with the strong support of the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, has led to:
More than 1,000 arrests or summonses
Seizure of 130 illegal firearms
Confiscation of 108 kilograms of narcotics
Recovery of over $627,000 in suspected drug proceeds
These results align with broader statewide crime data and recent announcement by the administration that preliminary 2024 data show continued declines in both violent and property crimes across Massachusetts.
“Partnership is at the heart of these efforts,” said Colonel Geoffrey Noble, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police. “By targeting high-impact offenders, removing illegal firearms, and disrupting narcotics trafficking, the state’s PSN Initiative is sustaining positive public safety trends statewide, preventing violent offenses and building safer neighborhoods for everyone who lives, works and raises a family in communities across Massachusetts.”
“The data clearly shows that investments in cooperative, proactive law enforcement is incredibly effective in combatting violent and firearm-related crime,” said OGR Executive Director Kevin Stanton. “These critical efforts are enhanced when additional sources of grant funding provide law enforcement with the resources to increase visibility through patrols and enhance investigations and to support prosecutors’ efforts to reduce young people’s involvement in criminal activity and the legal system. OGR is proud to support these impactful collaborations and the long-standing partnerships that have flourished as a result.”
OGR is currently reviewing proposals submitted to the FY26 Commonwealth Project Safe Neighborhood Initiative. Awards are expected to be announced in the coming months. The innovative program dedicates a portion of the available funds to prevention, intervention and diversion programming in addition to enforcement activities.
“Through the Project Safe Neighborhood Initiative, every illegal firearm we remove and every drug network we dismantle brings Brockton closer to safety, showing the power of our partnerships and our commitment to protecting families and preventing tragedy,” said Brockton Police Chief Brenda Perez.
“The success of operations like Project Safe Neighborhoods shows what is possible when local and state law enforcement agencies work side by side with a shared mission. Every arrest made, every illegal firearm seized, and every drug network dismantled is a step toward a safer Lawrence. Our officers remain committed to these partnerships and to protecting the people of our city through proactive, community-focused policing,” said Lawrence Police Chief Maurice Aguiler.
“The Holyoke Police Department values our partnership with the Massachusetts State Police. The Safe Neighborhood Initiative resulted in numerous arrests and illicit drugs taken off the street, which in turn preserves open spaces for our residents and children in the community. We look forward to working together with the State Police again on this initiative to continue to keep our neighborhoods safe,” said Holyoke Police Chief Brian Keenan.
“The Project Safe Neighborhood Initiative continues to allow our officers working alongside our partners at the Massachusetts State Police to target problem areas with the ultimate goal of creating a safer community for our residents in the city. Our Firearms Investigation Unit Detectives worked together with the State Police and were able to seize more than 20 firearms, a trafficking weight heroin/fentanyl and cocaine and nearly $100,000 in cash,” said Springfield Police Superintendent Lawrence E. Akers. “As you look across the state, the results here in the city of Springfield speak for itself and undoubtedly saved lives. I’d like to thank Colonel Noble and the Executive Office of Public Safety for their continued support and extend well deserved praise for our dedicated officers who worked this important initiative.”
“I’m thrilled that the Healey-Driscoll administration, in partnership with the Legislature, has highlighted the great success of the 2025 Commonwealth Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN) Initiative. This program, funded through the Fiscal Year 2025 budget, has resulted in tangible results that make communities all across the Commonwealth safer,” said Senator Michael J. Rodrigues (D-Westport), Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “In my district, Fall River has benefited greatly through this close collaborative of state and local law enforcement agencies. The results speak for themselves, as gang activity, firearm possession, and illegal drug use and distribution have all been impacted by the diligent work of dedicated police units.”
"I'm grateful to local and state law enforcement, as well as the Healey-Driscoll Administration, for their collaboration to address violent crime and make our communities safer for everyone," said Senator John J. Cronin (D - Fitchburg).
“The success of the Commonwealth Project Safe Neighborhood Initiative is a testament to what can be achieved when local, state, and community partners unite to combat violence and crime,” said Representative Daniel Cahill (D - Lynn), Chair of the Joint Committee on Public Safety & Homeland Security. “By working together, we are not only removing illegal firearms and dismantling drug networks, but we are also investing in the future of our communities. This initiative is a step forward in building safer, stronger neighborhoods where families can thrive, and I look forward to continuing to support these efforts in the legislature.”
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