MA State Police join first-ever animal cruelty task force

BOSTON (WNLE) – Massachusetts State Police announced on Wednesday that they will be playing an integral role in the newly implemented Suffolk County Animal Cruelty Task Force.

Officials say the task force is the county’s first multi-agency effort aimed at reducing abuse of animals and coordinating law enforcement efforts to help bring animal abusers to justice.

Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden created the task force with help from the Animal Rescue League of Boston (ARL-Boston) and the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (MSPCA).

The MSPCA and ARL-Boston conducted hundreds of investigations of animal abuse in 2023.

“Anyone who has ever loved or owned a pet knows the joy and happiness they bring to our lives,” Hayden said. “Sadly, too many animals and pets end up getting hurt through malicious intent or conscious neglect.”

Police say, last year, 17 individuals were charged in Suffolk County with at least one animal cruelty related offense.

“This task force will improve our ability to investigate, charge and prosecute these cases and, hopefully, reduce them,” Hayden continued.

Troopers Carlo Mastromattei and Christopher Kane are set to serve on the task force, which will be chaired by Assistant District Attorney Amelia Singh.

State Police on the force will be joined by members of the Boston, Chelsea, Winthrop and Revere police departments, along with several other state agencies.