Brookline Appoints Acting Police Chief, Promotes 3 Officers

BROOKLINE, MA — The Brookline Select Board chose Richard Allen to serve as Acting Police Chief at their meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 11.

Allen is a 33-year veteran of the Brookline Police Department, joining in 1989 as a Patrol Officer. He was promoted to detective in 1995, Patrol Sergeant in 2003, and Detective Sergeant in 2004. In 2007, he was promoted to Shift Commander Lieutenant and later to Police Prosecutor Lieutenant in 2008, serving as the lead prosecutor in district court. In 2021, he was promoted to Deputy Superintendent of the Patrol Division.

The town partnered with the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) to assist in the search for a permanent Police Chief. The application process is now closed, and the town and PERF are in the process of reviewing and interviewing 22 applicants. A permanent chief is expected to be appointed by April.

At the meeting, the Select board also voted to delegate the authority to promote members of the Police Department to Town Administrator Mel Kleckner until a permanent Police Chief is appointed.

Following the vote, Kleckner promoted three members of the Brookline Police Department, including Deputy Superintendent Paul Cullinane, Lieutenant David Hill, and Sergeant Joseph Amendola.