SUNDERLAND — After months of searching, deliberation and debate by local officials, the town could have a new police chief soon.
During Tuesday’s Board of Selectmen meeting, the three-member board passed a two-thirds vote to move forward with current Shutesbury Chief of Police Thomas Harding.
Scott Bergeron and Thomas Fydenkevez voted in favor, David Pierce voted against moving forward in negotiations with Harding.
The vote swung at least partially because of the Shutesbury chief’s knowledge of the town.
“This is not the appointment process,” said Bergeron, who will represent the board during negotiations with Harding. Sunderland Town Administrator Sherry Patch said contingent on how those negotiations go, Harding will be offered the police chief position.
Monson police Sgt. Jane Jalbert, and Barre police Chief Erik Demotropoulos were also considered for the position.
Before the vote, the board debated the pros and cons of each candidate, and carried out a motion to enter negotiations with Demotropoulos, which failed at the last minute by a 2-1 vote.
Discussion at Tuesday’s meeting centered around the importance of community policing, managing a budget and the chief’s role in the community.
“When I look at Chief Harding,” said Fydenkevez, “there are a couple of things that stand out. He’s a small town chief, he’s used to juggling scheduling issues.
“I don’t know that we can make a bad choice,” he added, “there’s just so many strong points on all three candidates.”
Former Sunderland police chief Jeffrey Gilbert retired in the beginning of the year. Sgt. Brendan Lyons has been officer in charge since then.
Soon after Gilbert left, a search committee, composed of about nine people was formed and has been looking to fill the position since then.
“The search committee had a charge about what the board wanted them to do,” Patch said, adding that the committee was instructed to make at least three candidate recommendations to the selectmen.
The Board of Selectmen interviewed candidates the search committee recommended.
According to a memorandum outlining the selection process, applicants were considered for the position based on interviews, along with confidential credit, physical, psychological and reference checks.
Knowledge of Massachusetts law, personal integrity and a focus on community policing were included in job requirements, in addition to other, more specific requirements such as licenses and education.
Sunderland Police Department has six part-time staff positions and five full-time employees, including the chief’s position. All of the positions are appointed annually by the Board of Selectmen. In 2015, the department received more than 1,500 calls for assistance.
You can reach Andy Castillo at: acastillo@recorder.com
or 413-772-0261, ext. 263
On Twitter: @AndyCCastillo