ORANGE — With experience as a leader and years of service to the town, the Selectboard has chosen Sgt. James Sullivan to be acting police chief.
Sullivan was selected during Wednesday’s meeting to lead the department while the town searches for a permanent chief to replace Craig Lundgren, whose resignation becomes effective March 1. Sullivan is expected to be sworn into the position officially next Wednesday.
According to Selectboard members James Cornwell and Jane Peirce, Sullivan was the natural choice for the job, because he is the department’s designated second-in-command, and had experience performing police chief duties while Lundgren spent time in neighboring Athol, as well as before that when Lundgren took time off.
“We entrusted (Sullivan) to lead our department during this agreement with Athol, and have full confidence he will continue to lead the department successfully,” Peirce said.
Lundgren has spent half his time in Athol since November, when the two town’s reached an agreement to share a police chief temporarily. Athol has been without a full-time police chief since Aug. 10, 2018, when acting Police Chief Timothy Anderson left the position. Anderson himself had come out of retirement to fill the position on a temporary basis after Athol Police Chief Russell Kleber was put on paid administrative leave July 16, 2018.
Lundgren has not resigned as chief in Athol — the deal between the two towns was set to expire June 30.
The Selectboard has discussed the possibility of hiring the next permanent chief from within the department, but will also be posting job advertisements and allowing outside applicants. There will be a search committee formed to screen potential hires.
Reach David McLellan at dmclellan@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 268.