Wakefield’s School Resource Officer team builds positive relationships among students, families, schools, and law enforcement. Officers Joe Lyons and Kelley Tobyne, along with Community Resource Dog Samy, provide a familiar and supportive presence in our schools while promoting safety, connection, and student well-being.
Officer Kelley Tobyne
Wakefield Elementary Schools | Contact Officer Kelley Tobyne | Phone: 781-245-1212 Ext. 7273
Officer Kelley Tobyne has served with the Wakefield Police Department since 2009 and has been a School Resource Officer for the Town of Wakefield since 2012. She earned her undergraduate degree from Endicott College and graduated from the Police Academy in 2007. She also holds a Master’s degree in Criminal Justice and a Master’s degree in Counseling from Salem State University and is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC).
Officer Tobyne is a member of the NEMLEC Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) Team. Her background in both law enforcement and mental health allows her to provide additional support to students and community members and to serve as a trusted resource within Wakefield’s schools.
In 2022, Officer Tobyne was joined by her partner, K9 Sampson (“Samy”), a black English Labrador Retriever certified through the National Alliance of Therapy Dogs. Together, Officer Tobyne and Samy visit schools and community events throughout Wakefield, providing a calm and welcoming presence and offering students and adults opportunities to connect, talk, and take a break during the day.
Officer Tobyne enjoys building positive relationships with students and helping create a supportive school environment. Outside of work, she enjoys cooking, working on her house, and spending time with her two dogs, Mac and Samy.
K9 Samy | Instagram
Samy is a black English Labrador Retriever who works alongside School Resource Officer Kelley Tobyne as part of the Wakefield Police Department’s School Resource Officer program. She regularly visits Wakefield schools, community events, and local businesses, where she helps reduce anxiety, support student well-being, and build positive connections throughout the community.
Samy was named in honor of Becca Sampson, a Wakefield sixth-grade student who passed away from leukemia in 2018. Her name serves as a tribute to Becca and her lasting connection to the Wakefield community.
Officer Joseph Lyons
Wakefield Memorial High School | Contact Officer Joseph Lyons | Phone: 781-245-1212 Ext. 7285
Officer Joe Lyons is a Wakefield native and a 1999 graduate of Wakefield Memorial High School. He attended Northeastern University’s College of Criminal Justice and has more than 20 years of experience in law enforcement.
Officer Lyons began his career with the Arlington County Police Department in Arlington, Virginia. After returning to Massachusetts in 2006, he served with the Boston College Police Department and the Nahant Police Department before joining the Wakefield Police Department in 2012.
Officer Lyons currently serves as the School Resource Officer at Wakefield Memorial High School. He is also a member of the Wakefield Police Department’s Motorcycle Unit and the NEMLEC Regional Motorcycle Unit. Previously, he worked in the department’s Records Division, where he handled court documentation and licensing. He is a certified TASER instructor and ALICE instructor.
As School Resource Officer, Officer Lyons enjoys serving as a positive resource for students and helping foster strong, positive relationships between young people and law enforcement. As both a Wakefield native and WMHS alumnus, he brings a personal connection to the school and community he serves.
