Overview:
The Royalston Police Chief Committee is searching for a full-time police chief to replace the current part-time chief, Curtis Deveneau. The committee has received applications from a dozen candidates and will begin interviewing them on Jan. 21. The successful candidate will be the first full-time chief in Royalston and will be responsible for protecting the community and enforcing the law. The committee is looking for someone with supervisory experience and the ability to balance law enforcement requirements with the needs of a small town.
ROYALSTON – A dozen applicants have expressed their desire to be the next chief of police for Royalston.
“We looked for a good fit with Royalston,” said Police Chief Committee Chair Steve Egan. “We’re looking for someone with all the qualifications to be a police officer in Massachusetts – that’s first and foremost.”
Last September, Royalston voters approved a Proposition 2 ½ override of $173,000 for a full-time police chief and one full-time police officer. Shortly after the vote, the Police Chief Committee was put together to come up with a job description and begin the search.
Along with Egan, other members of the committee include Selectboard Chair Bill Chapman, Dana Cooley, Todd Neale, Fire Chief Eric Jack, Ryan Hood, John Coflesky, Mark Brighenti, and Winchendon Police Chief Dan Wolski – who is a resident of Royalston.
“And then we were looking for experience, supervisory abilities – someone who had served in demonstrated supervisory positions,” Egan said. “It’s not like being a police chief in New York City – we’re a small town with a small force, but they need to be able to meet all the law enforcement requirements to protect the community, keep the community safe, and enforce the law. They have to understand the balance needed in a smaller town like Royalston.”
The successful candidate will become the first full-time chief in Royalston, replacing current part-time Police Chief Curtis Deveneau, who had said he would resign from the position if the override passed. He will serve until a replacement is chosen and sworn in.
Of the applications received, Egan said, “We received some really good resumes from people that have the potential to be hired on. We’ve been doing a very rigorous review of all the resumes to make sure they meet the qualifications we spelled out in the position advertisement.”
The committee is scheduled to begin interviews at 5 p.m., on Wednesday, Jan. 21, and Thursday, Jan. 22, as well as 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 27. All interviews will be held at Royalston Community School, 96 Winchendon Road.
“It’s been a very deliberative process,” said Egan. “We got together and defined the qualifications we’re looking for. We came up with a good, solid job description. We ensured it was reviewed by legal to make sure we hit all the marks. We worked on questions for the interviews so that it’s fair and deliberate. It’s not rushed, we’re going at a deliberate pace, because the people of Royalston voted for this. Town leadership said we need to deliver on what the citizens voted for, so we’re doing it at a very deliberate pace.”