Former Fall River Police Chief Kelly Furtado will be honored with a state lifetime achievement award recognizing her “outstanding contributions to the field of law enforcement.”

 

Furtado is the 2026 recipient of the Massachusetts Association of Women in Law Enforcement’s Spirit of MAWLE Lifetime Achievement Award. 

 

In a May 14 letter notifying Furtado of the win, MAWLE notes Furtado’s “dedication” and “hard work” that endure as an “inspiration for others, especially women who are encouraged to achieve their own milestones by your example." 

 

MAWLE President Sarah Palermo stated, “We had excellent candidates for this award," but the nomination from Sgt. Ross Aubin “really gave us an idea of Chief Furtado's many accomplishments with details that make you proud just reading it. You can really feel ... she has had a true impact; and that she is someone that younger officers can emulate, as we continue in our careers, seeking to make meaningful impacts of our own.”

 

“She deserves it,” Palermo said.

 

See more at heraldnews.com.