Neil A. Sicard was born in Brooklyn, New York, and moved to Revere, Massachusetts, during childhood. He grew up in Revere and relocated to Salem, Massachusetts, in 2000 after graduating from high school.
While attending Suffolk University, Neil interned at the Suffolk District Court’s Juvenile Probation Office. This experience shifted his career aspirations from law to law enforcement, leading him to become a patrol officer. Neil began his career as a special police officer with Longwood Security Services in Boston, where he was assigned to the Villa Victoria Housing Development. From 2007 to 2011, he worked closely with the Boston Police Department’s District 4, gaining valuable experience in community policing.
In 2015, Neil transitioned to a role as a Public Safety Dispatcher at the Essex County Regional Emergency Communication Center, where he honed his crisis communication and response skills. In May 2017, he joined the Salem Police Department as a reserve patrol officer. Salem, a historic city founded in 1626 and known as the “City of Peace,” is located about twenty miles north of Boston and has a population of approximately 43,000 within its eight square miles.
During his seven-year tenure with the Salem Police Department, Neil served as a patrol officer on the ESX (Essex) Unit. This unit covers the downtown area, which is frequented by tourists, businesses, government officials, residents, and homeless individuals. The ESX Unit encounters diverse challenges, including interactions with individuals who may have dual diagnoses of mental health and substance abuse disorders.
To enhance his skills and expertise, Neil completed various training courses, including Crisis Intervention Team Training from the Metro Boston Training and Technical Assistance Center (2021), Behavior Recognition Training from the Municipal Police Institute (2021), De-escalation and Body Language for Law Enforcement Officers from the Municipal Police Institute (2022), Crisis De-Escalation and Street Negotiation from the Municipal Police Institute (2024), and Officer Health Wellness and Resiliency from the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE), Massachusetts Chapter (2024). In July 2022, Neil was selected to join the Community Impact Unit (CIU) as a mental health specialist and cultural ambassador. As part of this role, he completed graduate-level coursework at William James College, earning a Certificate in Crisis Response and Behavioral Health. Neil Sicard also holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Suffolk University and a master’s in criminal justice from Northeastern University.