A 63-year-old Tyngsborough man is set to be summonsed after police say he took the town’s police boat out onto Lake Mascuppic, flipped on its emergency lights and started telling people to get out of the water. Responding officers found him at the helm of the department’s marine unit and ordered him to bring the boat back in, which he did. Town officials then pulled the boat from the dock to head off any repeat performance.
How police say it unfolded
Tyngsborough police say the call came in around 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, when a caller reported an unauthorized person operating the department’s marine unit and trying to enforce local boating bylaws, according to NBC Boston. When officers arrived, they say they found the man running the police boat with its lights activated and told him to return it to shore. He complied.
Police did not release the man’s name but said the 63-year-old resident will be summonsed to Lowell District Court on a charge of impersonating an officer. A clerk‑magistrate will later decide whether there is enough evidence for an arraignment, which is the first step before any formal criminal case moves forward.
Why officials stepped up lake patrols
The incident comes as Tyngsborough has been ramping up marine enforcement on Lake Mascuppic this summer after state funds were earmarked to strengthen patrols. The Town Manager’s Report notes that an earmark secured by state Rep. Colleen Garry is being used to staff the police department’s marine unit and coordinate patrols with neighboring Dracut.
The Dracut Police Department has also put out a release saying its officers, Tyngsborough police and the Massachusetts Environmental Police are working together to educate boaters and enforce updated rules on the lake. Officials have framed the stepped-up presence as a safety and education effort, not just a ticket-writing campaign.
What authorities are doing now
Tyngsborough police told NBC Boston that they consulted with the Massachusetts Environmental Police and the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office before deciding to summons the man. The town has since removed the marine unit from the dock to secure it.
A clerk‑magistrate will determine whether the impersonation case advances to an arraignment. If it does, prosecutors will then decide whether to pursue formal charges. Police said no further details about the man or his motives were immediately available.
Legal implications
Massachusetts law makes it a crime to falsely assume the role of certain officials, including police officers. Under Chapter 268, Section 33 of the General Laws, as updated in 2025, falsely claiming to be a police officer and acting in that role can bring a fine of up to $1,000 or up to two and a half years of imprisonment, according to the legislature’s text. Whether this case heads in that direction, or is resolved some other way, will hinge on the clerk‑magistrate’s review and the call made by the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office.
Town officials and police have stressed that the recent enforcement push on Lake Mascuppic is aimed at improving safety and education for everyone on the water, a point the town manager’s report repeats while outlining work with state partners. Residents with information about this incident or other lake activity are asked to contact the Tyngsborough Police Department through the town’s usual channels, the report notes.
