CPD chief reports on productive UK security trip

By Mike Berger

Canton Police Chief Ken Berkowitz got an up-close look at how British security forces react to terrorism during a recent trip across the pond as an invited guest of U.K. law enforcement.

Police Chief Ken Berkowitz outside Scotland Yard in London

The trip was put together and fully sponsored by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Berkowitz, who serves as president of the Metropolitan Law Enforcement Council (MetroLEC) and as a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), was one of three American invitees along with the Arlington, Virginia police chief and the deputy chief in charge of counterterrorism for the Los Angeles Police Department. MetroLEC is a regional mutual aid facilitator formed by 45 police agencies in the Boston area. It pools resources to provide SWAT, K-9, hostage negotiation, computer crimes, motorcycle and other law enforcement services throughout the area.

Berkowitz said the U.S. contingent met with their police counterparts in the city of Manchester, which was the site of a 2017 arena bombing that killed 22 people and injured hundreds of others following a concert by American pop star Ariana Grande.

Berkowitz said British security officials were particularly interested in the regional response protocol from outside the city of Boston. “As president of MetroLEC for a number of years — which included the period of time during the Boston Marathon bombing and Watertown [shootout] — I was able to offer some insight and overall perspective on that particular response,” said Berkowitz. “Additionally, we met with officials from the Manchester United Stadium to discuss their security. Since Canton officers, including myself, work at Gillette Stadium, it was helpful to hear about and observe how they handle a similar venue.”

Later in the week the American group visited the new U.S. Embassy in London and met with the law enforcement team that is stationed there. At the end of the week, they spent some time at New Scotland Yard, which is the headquarters of the Metropolitan Police Service. The lead investigator debriefed the London Bridge/Borough market attack in which nine people were killed and the group then walked the route and attended a briefing and conducted a site visit to British parliament where six people, including a police officer, were killed.

“We spoke at length about the advantages and disadvantages of police officers being armed and different community policing programs,” said Berkowitz.

“It was a great opportunity,” the chief added. “I’m thankful to the Canton Board of Selectmen and Town Administator Charlie Aspinwall for allowing the opportunity to attend. I’m confident that I was able to bring some tangibles back to our community.”

Berkowitz said he received a global perspective on what the world is facing. “Europe is a good predictor of what to expect,” he said. “I have a better view of the problems we are facing.” He also was intrigued that British police do not carry guns while out on patrol.

This wasn’t Berkowitz’s first international security trip. In 2008 he visited Israel to meet with law enforcement officials.

Back on the home front, Berkowitz and Canton Police Lt. Charles Rae have held several meetings with school officials to map out an updated school security plan in the wake of the recent shootings in Parkland, Florida.

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