NEPBA Praises CEMLEC SWAT Response After Millbury Officer Wounded in High-Risk Spencer Standoff

The New England Police Benevolent Association stands in full solidarity with the Millbury Police officer who was seriously wounded in the line of duty during the violent armed standoff in Spencer, Massachusetts.

This incident underscores the stark reality of policing today. Officers are routinely placed in unpredictable, life-threatening situations simply for answering the call to protect their communities. What unfolded was not a routine response. It was a rapidly escalating, high-risk encounter with an armed individual who showed a complete disregard for human life.

NEPBA is especially proud of the courageous response by the Central Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council (CEMLEC) SWAT Team — a regional unit made up of highly trained individuals, including NEPBA members, who willingly step into the most dangerous circumstances to keep the public safe. These officers ran toward gunfire when others could not.

We also stand firmly with the men and women of the Millbury Police Department and all agencies involved in this operation. Their professionalism, bravery, and swift actions prevented further loss of life.

Let this be a clear reminder to the public: law enforcement officers face life-or-death decisions every single day. They leave their families not knowing if they will return home. The risks are real. The sacrifice is real.

NEPBA will always advocate for the safety, respect, and support our officers deserve, and we are wishing this injured officer strength, healing, and a full recovery.

Our thoughts remain with his family, fellow officers, and the entire law enforcement community.