Joe Mahoney Receives Commendation for Help in Investigation

Suspect in Bristol crime found in Andover

October 16, 2015 • Saved under Committees
Press release

On October 5, Bristol Police Chief Michael Lewis (left) attended a meeting of the Andover Board of Selectmen to present Andover Police Department's Sergeant Joe Mahoney (right) with a framed letter of commendation for his help investigating a "lengthy and critical" armed robbery in Bristol. The letter of commendation cites Joe's "attention to detail and willingness to assist another agency" as being "instrumental in locating the suspect and protecting the citizens of the community." The commendation continues, "It is these skills that make Sergeant Joseph Mahoney an exceptional Police Officer." Photo: Charlie Darling

On October 5, Bristol Police Chief Michael Lewis (left) attended a meeting of the Andover Board of Selectmen to present Andover Police Department’s Sergeant Joe Mahoney (right) with a framed letter of commendation for his help investigating a “lengthy and critical” armed robbery in Bristol. The letter of commendation cites Joe’s “attention to detail and willingness to assist another agency” as being “instrumental in locating the suspect and protecting the citizens of the community.” The commendation continues, “It is these skills that make Sergeant Joseph Mahoney an exceptional Police Officer.” Photo: Charlie Darling

This is Sergeant Joe Mahoney’s first-hand account of his work in helping locate the suspect in an armed robbery in Bristol.

On August 30, at approximately 1056 hours, I heard dispatch advise Bristol Police of a robbery at the Rite Aid in their town. While monitoring the radio, it appeared that the Bristol Police Department had developed a possible suspect in the case of a Kevin Groesser of Hill, a subject with whom I am familiar. While I continued to monitor the radio, I learned that in July, the Franklin Police Department was involved in a pursuit with the suspect, and the vehicle that he was operating belonged to a subject from Andover.

I then called dispatch to learn the identity of the owner of the vehicle that Groesser had been operating. With this new information, I decided to monitor the area of the Andover residence in case Groesser were to visit. I felt that it was likely that he may visit the location in Andover rather than going back to his house after a robbery.

As I continued to monitor the residence that afternoon, I observed a vehicle leave the residence and pass my location. As the vehicle passed me, the suspect appeared to be in the passenger’s seat. I then followed the vehicle and notified dispatch of Groesser being in the vehicle. I continued to follow the vehicle on Route 11 towards Franklin, with Franklin Police units heading in my direction.

When I reached Franklin, it was decided that we would make a motor vehicle stop in Franklin on Route 3A ,where it was less residential, in case they decided to start a pursuit. We were able to stop the vehicle on Route 3A, just south of Acme Staple, with the assistance of Officers Gotthardt and Ciavola of the Franklin Police Department.

The suspect in the robbery, Groesser, was taken into custody for the Bristol Police Department. Also taken into custody was the driver, Patrick Flood of Boscawen, who had a warrant for his arrest.

After the two males were taken into custody, I later went back to the residence in Andover they had left. The owner of that residence gave consent to search the residence for evidence of the robbery, but I found nothing.