Needham Police Department

The Needham Police Department is saddened to share the passing of retired Needham Police Officer Robert E. McCormack, who passed away on Sunday, August 9, 2026, at the age of 81.

Officer McCormack joined the Needham Police Department in 1968 and went on to serve the Needham community for 35 years. Throughout his career, he was known for his dedication, professionalism, and commitment to the residents and fellow officers he served alongside.

Robert was also a founding member of the Needham Police Honor Guard, helping establish a tradition that continues within our department today. The Honor Guard represents some of the most meaningful traditions in law enforcement including honoring fallen officers, retired members, and those who dedicated their lives to public service. His role in helping establish that tradition remains part of his lasting legacy at NPD.

Public service was deeply rooted in Robert’s family. At just 16 years old, he lost his father, Captain Joseph McCormack of the Norwood Fire Department, who died in the line of duty. Robert also honorably served our country in the United States Army Reserve.

We extend our deepest condolences to his wife of 58 years, Elizabeth; his sons, Kevin and John; his grandchildren and his extended family.

We thank Officer Robert McCormack for his 35 years of dedicated service to the Town of Needham and for his lasting contributions to the Needham Police Department.

Rest easy, Officer McCormack.

On Tuesday, we hosted our third annual National Night Out on the Town Common, and once again, our community showed up in a big way!

For a town that traditionally gets a little quieter during the summer months, the crowd was incredible. Over 40 pizzas disappeared in just a couple of hours, the ice cream was EMPTIED, the dogs received plenty of attention, and the Metro SWAT BearCat might have had one of the longest lines of the night!

But what stood out to us most were the conversations.

Throughout the evening, our officers answered countless questions about policing, mutual aid with surrounding departments, the resources available to our community, and the many ways we work to stay engaged throughout town. We also heard so many kind comments about our social media, our community programs, and of course, how much everyone loves the dogs.

Even more meaningful were the residents who approached officers and remembered them from previous positive interactions. Whether it was a call they responded to, an event they attended, a conversation at school, or simply an encounter somewhere around town. Those moments are exactly what National Night Out is all about: building relationships before an emergency ever happens and giving our community an opportunity to get to know the people behind the badge.

A huge thank you to Needham Fire Department, Babson College Police Department, Roadside Rescue, Massachusetts Environmental Police, the Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office, Needham Youth & Family Services, Hearth Pizzeria, and Metro SWAT for helping make the night such a success.

Our partners from Babson College Police Department came out in full force with their two dogs, drones, and UTV, giving families a chance to see some of the equipment and resources that are available through our mutual-aid partnerships.

Thank you as well to all of our officers who took time out of their night to stop by, meet families, answer questions, show off some equipment, and simply say hello.

Most importantly, thank you, Needham. Whether you stayed for two hours or stopped by for ten minutes, you helped make our third National Night Out another memorable one.

Today, on National Purple Heart Day, we pause to recognize and honor the extraordinary courage and sacrifice of the men and women who were wounded or made the ultimate sacrifice while serving our nation in combat.

The Purple Heart is one of our nation’s oldest and most revered military decorations, originally established by General George Washington in 1782. It is awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces who are wounded or killed as a direct result of enemy action.

Together, it is a lasting symbol of bravery, resilience, and selfless service.

Needham has proudly been recognized as a Purple Heart Community since 2015, reaffirming our commitment to honoring those who have paid such a tremendous price in defense of our freedoms.

Today, our community is home to more than 84 Purple Heart recipients, whose names are permanently memorialized at Memorial Park as a reminder that the cost of freedom is never forgotten.

To the Purple Heart recipients, their families, and especially the families of those who never came home, we extend our deepest gratitude. Your sacrifices have protected the freedoms we enjoy every day, and your courage will never be forgotten.

From all of us at the Needham Police Department, thank you to our Purple Heart heroes.

Over the next three weeks, members of the Needham Police Department will be conducting our annual Active Shooter Response Training.

While we wish these types of trainings were never necessary, preparing for the unexpected is one of the most important responsibilities we have. We are fortunate to partner with our local schools, allowing us to rotate training locations each year. This provides officers with valuable familiarity with different building layouts, access points, and the unique challenges they may encounter during a critical incident.

We are also fortunate to have six members assigned to conduct the trainings. Their commitment, experience, and countless hours spent planning and facilitating these exercises ensure our officers receive realistic, challenging, and meaningful training each year.

Over the past four years, our training has taken place at Pollard Middle School, Needham High School, Saint Sebastian’s School, and this year at Saint Joseph’s School.

As a result, you will notice an increased police presence at Saint Joseph’s School over the next three weeks.

We sincerely appreciate the continued support and cooperation of our school partners. Their willingness to host these trainings plays a critical role in ensuring our officers remain prepared should the unthinkable ever occur.

During National Night Out, a family approached Officer Bayiates with a special surprise, a photo they had taken nearly 9 years ago of their son sitting on one of our police motorcycles next to Officer Bayiates.

We all agreed there was only one thing to do, recreate it!

Fast forward almost a decade, and while our little visitor has grown quite a bit, the smile and excitement are still exactly the same. Moments like these remind us how meaningful the relationships we build with our community can be and how quickly time flies.

Thank you to the family for sharing such a great memory with us and for giving us the chance to create another one!

***Link has been updated with an updated poster showing the work address of the new Level 3 S*x Offender***

Community Notification
*NEW LEVEL 3 S*X OFFENDER*
Information is available on our website regarding s*x offenders working and living in town.
Please click on the following link for more information:
https://needhamma.gov/3891/Level-3-S*x-Offender-Working-or-Living-I

Tonight’s the Night! National Night Out is Here! 🚓🍦

It’s going to be a warm, but beautiful summer evening, and we can’t wait to see everyone tonight from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM on the Needham Town Common for our 3rd Annual National Night Out!

Bring the whole family and enjoy:
🍕 Pizza from Hearth Pizzeria
🍦 FREE ice cream from Ice Cream One
🐶 Meet Rocket and Ghost from the Needham Police Department, along with K9 Hero and K9 Gracie from the Babson College Police Department
🚔 Explore a Metro-LEC SWAT BearCat
🚒 Climb aboard a Needham Fire Department fire truck
🚙 Check out UTVs from Babson College Police and the Massachusetts Environmental Police
🚁 See police drones from the Needham Police Department and Babson College Police
🎯 Lawn games and family-friendly activities
🤝 Meet local organizations, including Needham Youth & Family Services, the Norfolk County Sheriff’s Office, and many other community partners.

National Night Out is an opportunity to strengthen the partnership between first responders and the community we proudly serve. Whether you’re coming for the kids, the comfort dogs, the emergency vehicles, or just to enjoy a summer evening with neighbors, there’s something for everyone.

📍 Needham Town Common
🕔 Tonight | 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM

We hope to see you there!

Over the past several weeks, the Needham Police Department has seen an increase in calls for service related to substance use, as well as individuals and family members looking for guidance on navigating recovery.

We recognize that asking for help isn’t always easy. That’s why we are incredibly fortunate to partner with Recovery Coach Angi MacDonnell, who is employed through the Town of Needham’s Public Health Division. Her position is funded through opioid settlement funds and was created to provide free, confidential recovery coaching and support to Needham residents and their families. She serves as a bridge between individuals, families, treatment providers, and community resources, helping people navigate the recovery process regardless of where they are in their journey.

Angi works closely with our patrol officers, our Community Outreach Team, and our embedded Riverside clinician to provide support, connect people with treatment and community resources, and help remove barriers to recovery.

One of the most important things to know is that once a referral is made, your conversations with Angi are confidential. While our officers may help make the initial connection, what you choose to discuss with Angi remains between you and her. Her role is to provide a safe, supportive, and judgment-free space where individuals and families can ask questions, explore options, and receive guidance at their own pace.

Whether you’re seeking help for yourself, supporting a loved one, or simply don’t know where to start, you don’t have to navigate it alone.

If you have questions or would like to connect with Angi, please don’t hesitate to reach out:

📧 [email protected]

Recovery looks different for everyone, but no one should have to face it alone.

Mark your calendars for Tuesday, August 4, from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the Needham Town Common as we celebrate our third annual National Night Out!

National Night Out is a nationwide event that brings neighbors and first responders together to strengthen community partnerships, build trust, and promote crime prevention in a fun, family-friendly setting. It’s an opportunity to meet the officers, firefighters, and community partners who serve Needham every day, outside of an emergency.

This year’s event will feature:
🍦 FREE ice cream
🐕 Meet our Comfort Dogs
🚓 Metro-LEC SWAT BearCat
🚒 Needham Fire Department
🚚 Roadside Rescue Tow Trucks
🚛 Norfolk County Sheriffs Office
🚓 Babson College Police Department
🚨 Massachusetts Environmental Police
🚙 UTV demonstrations
🤝 Local organizations and community partners and much more!

Whether you’re stopping by to say hello, explore emergency vehicles, meet our four-legged friends, or simply enjoy a summer evening with your neighbors, there’s something for everyone.

We hope to see you on the Town Common as we continue building the relationships that help keep Needham one of the safest and strongest communities around. See you on August 4!

Best of luck to all of the cyclists taking part in the 2026 Pan-Mass Challenge, especially our hometown riders from Needham!

This weekend, more than 6,800 cyclists and 3,500 volunteers will come together for one of the largest athletic fundraising events in the country, with a goal of raising a record $79 million for cancer research and patient care at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Since 1980, the PMC has contributed more than $1.125 billion in the fight against cancer.

The PMC will travel through Needham on Saturday and Sunday from approximately 6:00 AM to 9:00 AM. Needham Police officers will be stationed at key intersections along the route to help keep riders moving safely.

‼️ Drivers: Please use extra caution, especially along Central Avenue. Slow down, stay alert, and give cyclists plenty of room as they pass.

To everyone riding this weekend, thank you for every mile you pedal and every dollar you raise. Your dedication is making a difference in the lives of countless families.