Barnstable Police Chief On Extended Leave, Interim Named

BARNSTABLE, MA — There's a shakeup at the top of the Barnstable Police Department, at least for the time being.

Town officials confirmed with Patch on Friday that Police Chief Matthew Sonnabend has requested and has been placed on extended medical leave.

Deputy Chief Jean Challies has been appointed acting chief in Sonnabend's absence, the town's communications director Lynne Poyant confirmed.

Sonnabend was selected to lead the department in 2018, when he was elevated from his role as the department's deputy chief. He replaced Paul MacDonald.

Town officials were sparse on the details surrounding Sonnabend's medical leave, stating that they wouldn't comment on anything beyond the leave itself and Challies' elevation to acting chief.