At Summer Forum, Town Officials Questioned On Police Chief Search

Town officials responded to a question about the recent decision not to interview former State Trooper Jack Moran for the open chief of police position during the Civic League’s annual summer forum Tuesday morning.

During the forum, island resident Catherine Butler Hull asked Town Manager Libby Gibson what criteria left Moran out of the interview process.

Gibson echoed the statement the Current received from the town’s human resources director Amanda Perry. “It would be very, very inappropriate, and I don't know any town that would speak to the specific candidates who have or have not been participating in the interview process. We have a robust process underway right now,” she said, adding that the town has received applications from many qualified candidates. “It's a process, people drop out, people get reviewed through a very specific process.”

But Select Board Vice-Chair Brooke Mohr seemed to suggest that Moran’s exclusion might have to do with credentials. “Credentialing for folks who are active in law enforcement is part of the minimum criteria that are established as part of the search,” she said. Those credentials, she added, have been an extremely important part of the search process, especially because of recent changes to policing enacted by the Massachusett’s Police Reform Act of 2020.

Mohr did not specify which credentials she was referring to, but the full job posting, which includes marginal notes from Gibson referencing the Police Reform Act, is available on the town’s website. Both Gibson and Mohr encouraged concerned members of the public to review it.

The job posting does not specifically list required credentials, but it does list “recommended minimum qualifications,” which include several credentials. One of those credentials is a Master’s Degree or a master craftsman level of trade knowledge in Criminal Justice, Public Administration or a related field.

Other requirements include at least five years’ experience at a command or supervisory level, CPR/First Responder and Defibrillator Certification, and extensive knowledge of relevant laws, regulations and modern policing techniques such as community policing.

Applicants must also satisfy all requirements set forth by the Massachusetts Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission (POST) for certification as a Police Officer in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.