PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release 

Tyngsborough- Town Manager Colin Loiselle and Police Chief Shaun Woods announce the reinstatement of Sgt. Mark Bourque

January 28, 2025 - Tyngsborough – Town Manager Colin Loiselle and Chief of Police Shaun Woods announced today the reinstatement of Sergeant Mark Bourque.

As was widely reported last week, the Town has received an arbitration decision that ruled in favor of the NEPBA Local 8B which is the collective bargaining unit that represents superior officers of the Tyngsborough Police Department. The decision found that the Town did not demonstrate just cause in the 2021 termination of Sergeant Mark Bourque.

Arbitration is the dispute resolution process agreed to in collective bargaining agreements whereby disagreements about contract interpretation and discipline are heard by an independent arbitrator who weighs the arguments presented by both sides and makes a ruling based on those arguments. Arbitration is a common process in the Commonwealth. Fortunately, contract disputes in Tyngsborough are uncommon and have rarely led to arbitration. 

In this matter, the arbitrator ruled that Sergeant Bourque be reinstated to his previous rank and be made whole for all backpay that he would have received back to November of 2021. 

While the Select Board believes that it made the best decision for the Town based on the recommendation of the Police Chief and Labor Counsel as well as the information available to it at the time, it respects the arbitration process and will comply with the arbitrator’s reinstatement order.

“We’re looking forward to putting this dispute behind us and working collaboratively with the Union and all members of the Tyngsborough Police Department to continue to provide the high level of public safety services that our residents deserve.” – Town Manager Colin Loiselle

No additional information will be available.

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