Chief Robert M. St. Pierre   Police Headquarters

"In Service to the Community"

Special Response Unit

sru@salempd.net

 Sgt. Kristian Hanson     978-744-0171 ext 277       khanson@salempd.net

Officer Robert Cunningham    978-744-0171 ext 235       rcunningham@salempd.net

Officer Brian St. Pierre       978-744-0171 ext 285      bstpierre@salempd.net

 

The Salem Police Department initiated the Special Response Unit (RSU) in January of 2011 as sub-division of the Administrative and Auxiliary Services Division. The Unit was created to identify and address what Chief Paul Tucker calls "neighborhood issues," the quality-of-life challenges that have a large effect on the city's diverse, tightly knit neighborhoods.

Under Chief Tucker's plan, the unit will help "fill the gap" between the officers who first respond to the crimes and the detectives who run the investigations, which can often take weeks.

The three-officer unit is supervised by Sgt. Kristian Hanson, he, Officer Robert Cunningham and Officer Brian St. Pierre work hand-in-hand with the Department's several other divisions to identify and solve quality of life issues.

The Officers bring a wide range of training and professional experience to the unit.

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Sgt. Kristian Hanson has been a member of the Salem Police Department since 2003. As a member of the patrol division Sgt. Hanson spent several years assigned to the city’s “Point Neighborhood” before being promoted to the rank of Sergeant in 2009. Upon being promoted, Sgt. Hanson performed the duties of Patrol Supervisor until he was re-assigned as the Supervisor of the Special Response Unit (SRU) in 2011.

Sgt. Hanson holds two Bachelor Degrees, University of New Hampshire ,BA Sociology achieved in 1998, and Salem State College, BS Criminal Justice achieved in 2005. Sgt. Hanson attended high school locally at St. John’s Prep where he is currently the Head Varsity Ice Hockey Coach. Prior to taking over the hockey program at St. John’s Prep, Sgt. Hanson headed the Salem High School hockey program for seven years.

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Officer Robert Cunningham was appointed as a full-time Salem Police Officer in 1990. He has a Bachelor Degree in Criminal Justice from Springfield Collage and a Master Degree in Criminal Justice from Anna Maria College. Additionally, Officer Cunningham attended and graduated from H.I.D.T.A. (High Intensity Drug Trafficking) Training in New York.

Officer Cunningham is a member of the Salem Police Department's Bicycle Unit, High Risk Entry Team, the Honor Guard and is a Field Training Officer. He is also a trained member of the N.E.M.L.E.C. (North Eastern Massachusetts
Law Enforcement Council) Regional Response, serving as a SWAT Team member, the Bicycle Unit and the Rapid Response Unit.

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Officer Brian St. Pierre has been employed by the Salem Police Department as a patrolman since 2006.  Prior to becoming a member of the Salem Police Department Officer St. Pierre worked at the Essex County Correctional Facility where he was employed as a correctional officer for three years.   Officer  St. Pierre attended school in the Salem Public School system and has also earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Salem State College in 2003.  As a patrolman Officer  St. Pierre has worked primarily in the Downtown Area and the City’s  Point Neighborhood.  Officer St. Pierre is also a member of the NEMLEC Rapid Response Team.   

Outside of work Officer St. Pierre enjoys spending time with his family and working out.