North Andover's Police Unions Express Lack of Confidence in Police Chief Charles P. Gray
Apr 8, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
North Andover, MA – April 8, 2026 – The members of the North Andover Patrol Officers Union, NEPBA Local 2A, and Sergeants Union, NEPBA Local 2B, have reached a tipping point.
After a decade enduring corrosive and incompetent leadership, our unions have passed a vote of no confidence in Police Chief Charles P. Gray. In a process that consisted of near full participation, more than 90% of members voiced an overwhelming lack of confidence in Chief Gray and are demanding a change in police department leadership.
We can no longer remain silent while operating under a toxic culture of vindictiveness and professional stagnation. This vote is not about wages, benefits or other traditional labor issues – it is the unavoidable consequence of years of failed leadership, no leadership, and outright inaction. Sadly, the current turmoil faced by our officers was both foreseeable and avoidable.
The recent publicized case involving multiple North Andover police officers is only one example of a pattern of leadership failures. We have long been aware for the need to satisfy the current societal need for video evidence. For years, our union members advocated for industry-standard body-worn cameras to ensure both transparency and officer protection.
These efforts were not theoretical, they were researched, presented, and were supported by the union as a necessary step toward transparency, officer protection, and evidentiary integrity. Those efforts were not acted upon, a failure that played a primary part in the recent case.
As a result, despite the credible testimony of several witnesses, including Officer Pat Noonan, corroborated by physical evidence, the Department’s failure to implement body cameras was held up as an evidentiary void that negatively impacted the outcome of this case, our members and our town.
The incident was just one symptom of this leadership failure. A comprehensive Officer-Involved Shooting policy proposed by the union sat unapproved for more than a year because it was deemed by the Chief to be "too wordy," reflecting a fundamental disregard for essential use-of-force governance.
This failure to act was especially troubling, as one of our members, in April 2024, was wounded by gunfire in a critical incident, an incident which motivated an extensive level of concern within our unions to ensure our department implemented best practices, policies, procedures, and provided adequate equipment. These concerns were deemed as high-risk / low frequency by our Chief and ignored.
The above represent only some recent examples of a failure to act resulting in foreseeable, harmful consequences to our members and our town. Normally, we would not take such a drastic measure as this vote but would instead call for an independent review of practices and leadership decision-making under Chief Charles Gray.
However, such a management review was conducted only six years ago, after the unions raised very similar concerns to Town Management about Chief Gray and his concerning leadership within the department. A report was produced, but the recommendations made to the Chief of Police have been largely ignored.
Despite our efforts to foster a positive relationship by electing new union leadership and supporting structural changes, Chief Gray has proven unable to fulfill the basic qualifications of an effective leader. Unfortunately, the consequences are landing squarely on our officers and our Town.
The unions’ overwhelming vote of no confidence is a direct reflection of:
- Low morale and Broken Trust: A culture of self-interest over officer safety.
- Administrative Incompetence: A failure to implement modern policing standards and essential policies.
- Lack of Accountability: Avoiding responsibility while officers face public scrutiny.
We have exhausted all avenues for reform through audits, reviews, and personnel changes. The problem remains the appointed leadership.
On behalf of the officers who continue to serve North Andover with pride despite these conditions, we call for the immediate removal of Charles P. Gray as Chief of Police.
Our officers and our community deserve leadership that prioritizes transparency, integrity, and professional excellence.
Sincerely,
North Andover Patrol Officers Union, NEPBA Local 2A
North Andover Sergeants Union, NEPBA Local 2B
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