Martha’s Vineyard tactical team helped in search for bombers

0
In this file photo, Edgartown police officer James Craig leads a training exercise with the Martha's Vineyard Tactical Response Team. — Photo courtesy of Martha's Vineyard Tactical Response Team

With one Boston Marathon bomber dead and another under arrest, this week Island selectmen in Edgartown, Oak Bluffs and Tisbury recognized the participation by members of the Martha’s Vineyard Tactical Response Team in last week’s massive police search.

Members of the tactical team made up of officers from departments across the Island traveled to the Boston area last Wednesday to work a 12-hour overnight shift and help relieve law enforcement teams that had been working around the clock to investigate the bombings and provide security at the Boylston Street crime scene.

The team returned home to the Vineyard on Thursday only to be called back Friday to help assist in the search for the at large bombing suspect throughout Watertown neighborhoods.

It was the second time in 48 hours the Tactical Response Team was deployed as part of the response to the Boston Marathon bombing.

On Wednesday, members of the team traveled to Cambridge for services honoring slain MIT police officer Sean Collier, 27, shot to death in his patrol car by Boston Marathon bombing suspects Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, according to police.

The Tactical Response Team was formed in 2009 to respond to crimes that endanger the public, deal with hostage situations, and assist in serving warrants on people with violent criminal records.

The team includes officers from all Island police departments except Tisbury, which has contributed an officer in the past, and is expected to in the future.

The members of the Tactical Response Team are:Lt. Tim Williamson, Sgt. Steve Conley, Detective Nick Curelli, Officer Jeff LaBell, Officer James Craig, Officer Nick Phelps, Officer James Neville, Officer Sean Slavin, Sgt. Jon Klaren and Officer David Murphy.