Search For Next Brookline Police Chief Edges Forward

BROOKLINE, MA — After 41 police officials who applied to be the next Brookline Chief of Police, 13 candidates will go on to the interview round, which starts next week.

"With the assistance of the screening panel, I have narrowed the field of candidates. We will begin to interview candidates beginning next week," said Brookline Town Administrator Mel Kleckner in an email to Patch. "I intend to identify one finalist to recommend for Select Board approval shortly after Labor Day."

Previously:

• Brookline Police Chief Dan O'Leary To Retire After 40 Years
• Brookline Searches For New Police Chief

In January, the Kleckner sent a memo to the Select Board announcing that the search had begun to find the town a new chief of police, following the retirement of Chief Dan O'Leary. The process, he said at the time, would probably take about six months.

To help with the search, Kleckner retained a consultant familiar with "the challenges of a modern police department operating in a progressive and active community and who is familiar with the current issues and trends in policing," he wrote in the memo.

In the meantime, Superintendent Mark Morgan has been Acting Chief of Police for Brookline since January 16, moving up from his rank of second in command. Morgan has both a bachelor's and master's degree in criminal justice and is an FBI National Academy graduate.

The new police department head will inherit a police department much like departments across the country that has been working to transition from authoritarian military style policing to more community based ("Warrior-style policing to Guardian-style Policing"), and one that has promised to make more of an effort to be inclusive and phase out an old-boy network mentality.

The salary range is $137,300 to $161,800, based on qualifications, according to the job description.

The chief will oversee some 136 sworn officers, 42 fulltime and 20 part-time non-sworn employees and a budget of $15 million. The Department operates with one chief, one superintendent, four deputy superintendents, 11 lieutenants, 16 sergeants, 103 police officers and 16 civilian dispatchers. Officers are selected and promoted through the rank of lieutenant through the Massachusetts Civil Service System.

The police chief reports directly to the town administrator who recommends a chief to the town's Select Board who has the final say.

The Board effectively acts as the Town’s Police Commissioners with daily administrative supervision from the Town Administrator, though as chief executive officer of the department, the chief is the departmental authority in all matters of policy, operations, and discipline.

The Town Administrator's candidate evaluation panel:

• Ian Polumbaum- Prosecuting Attorney, Town Meeting Member
• Anthony Naro- Defense Attorney, Member of the DICR Commission, Town Meeting Member
• Lynda Roseman- Mental Health Advocate, Brookline Neighborhood Alliance, Town Meeting Member
• Bernard Greene- Member of the Select Board
• Juan Cofield - President of NAACP, New England Area Conference
• Steven Wright- Law Firm Partner and Brookline Native
• Fred Levitan- Member of the Advisory Committee
• Jenny Amory- President of the Brookline Community Foundation

At the end of May the town posted a job description as it searched for a new Brookline Police Chief. From the job description:

The Ideal Candidate for Police Chief

The town is seeking a proven leader with exceptional management, interpersonal, and communication skills and demonstrated experience in developing and maintaining effective working relationships with government officials, community and civic groups (including private-sector partners), and police department employees.

Experience working in an urban police setting in a labor relations environment is highly preferred. Under the administrative direction of the Town Administrator, the successful candidate will be expected to expand upon the innovative policing practices and community engagement efforts of the department, and to have a proven track record of openness, transparency, and working with diverse communities.

The new chief must be well versed in best practices in policing, and have the ability to work collaboratively as a part of the town’s management team in addressing issues of public safety in an inclusive, democratic governing environment. The position requires a bachelor’s degree. A master’s degree in criminal justice, police administration, business administration, or related field is strongly preferred.

Ten years of progressively responsible police experience is required, five of which shall have been in a supervisory capacity. An equivalent combination of education and experience that provides the necessary knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the job will be considered.

Additional specialized leadership education, such as the Senior Management Institute for Police and the FBI National Academy is desirable. Once appointed, the Police Chief must obtain police certification in the state.

Previously:

Brookline Police Chief Dan O'Leary To Retire After 40 Years

Brookline Searches For New Police Chief

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Photo by Jenna Fisher/Patch. Contact this reporter at Jenna.Fisher@Patch.com or find her on Twitter: @ReporterJenna