TYNGSBOROUGH — Police Chief Shaun Woods is pleased to report that Tyngsborough Police Sgt. Cynthia Shay was promoted to the rank of lieutenant, making her the highest ranking female officer in the department’s history.
On Monday, Jan. 27, before the Select Board, Lt. Cynthia Shay was sworn in and recognized for an outstanding career. She becomes the first female lieutenant and the highest ranking female officer in the department’s history.
“Lieutenant Shay’s outstanding leadership, extensive experience, and unwavering dedication to the Tyngsborough Police Department, its members, the community, and the law enforcement profession make her an exemplary choice for this well-deserved promotion,” Chief Woods told the Select Board and Town Manager Colin Loiselle.
Lt. Shay has more than 28 years of experience in law enforcement. She began her career as a public safety dispatcher for the Town of Westford, before graduating from the Lowell Police Academy and joining the Tyngsborough Police Department in 1998.
She served as a patrol officer from 1998 to 2011 and as a patrol sergeant from 2011 to 2013. In 2013, Shay was promoted to the rank of Detective Sergeant, where she led the department’s criminal investigations division. In 2019, she was assigned as the court prosecutor, overseeing criminal cases in district and superior courts and serving as the department’s liaison to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office.
In her new role, Lieutenant Shay will serve as the commanding officer of the Special Services Division, which encompasses criminal investigations, court prosecution, the school resource officer program, and the department’s clinician co-response program.
Beyond her formal duties, Lieutenant Shay has made numerous significant contributions to the Tyngsborough Police Department. She co-founded the Tyngsborough Police Department Honor Guard in 2001, played a key role in redesigning the department’s patch in 2010, and has been an active member of the Superior Officer’s Union Executive Board. Additionally, she represents the department as a delegate to the Massachusetts Police Association.
“Lieutenant Shay’s exemplary career, coupled with her vision and dedication to excellence, will undoubtedly continue to enhance the effectiveness of our department and our service to the community,” said Chief Woods.
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