Police Chief Search Committee update at BoS Mtg...

Police Chief Search Committee report...

Tuesday night's Board of Selectmen meeting, held in the 2nd floor Town House Chenery Meeting Room was filled with concerned residents and a significant number of those attending this meeting were current and former Medfield Police and Public Safety employees.

On Monday afternoon, the agenda for a [3/13] second Board of Selectmen meeting of the week, was posted on the Town of Medfield website. The agenda reads "Discussion of interviews, deliberation on appointment of Police Chief, and whether or not to offer a candidate the position of Police Chief". Two candidates, Michelle Guerette and Brian Pichnarcik were listed on the agenda to be interviewed by the BoS and Interim Police Chief John Wilhelmi was not on that list.

Many of the police officers who attended Tuesday's meeting came in support of Wilhelmi and urged the Board of Selectmen to appoint him to the permanent position of Chief of Police. Some expressed their frustration as to why Wilhelmi was not recommended to be given an interview by the search committee and many spoke at length as to why they felt strongly that he is the right man for the job.

Bob Conlon, Chairman of the Police Chief Search Committee spoke at the podium explaining how the committee conducted this search and its process. He described in detail the 7 month timeline and the steps the committee took beginning with the job posting and receipt of 57 resumes and cover letters. Resumes and cover letters were reviewed and used to evaluate the candidates communication skills. The group of 57 was reduced to 17 candidates who were then given questionnaires. Based on the results of the questionnaires, this number of candidates was further reduced to 14 and then down to nine. These nine went through an interview process from the committee, each getting the same question and the same amount of time to answer. Based on these interviews, these candidates were ranked and five of them moved to the assessment center. The assessment exercises were referred to as intense and stressful, including rapid-fire questions and an evaluation of performance skills, organizational skills and scenario exercises.

Following Conlon's presentation and questions from the Selectman, Chairman Marcucci opened up the meeting to questions from the public. Every question or statement from those in attendance were in support of Interim Chief Wilhelmi. Resident, Jack Rose asked, "Was any credit given to the candidate who knows this town?" and resident, Paul Hinkley stated, "[Wilhelmi] knows the heart of this town, he has common sense. It is demoralizing to not have him on the interview list!" Former Selectman, John Harney said, "Having been in this town for 55 years, I know the town and ignoring the contribution [of Wilhelmi] and putting emphasis on textbook tests isn't right....you have to look at the town in its present situation. The candidates [brought forth by the committee] are not consistent with what Medfield needs."

The message resident Bill Massaro made was the importance and value of "experience and continuity in the town." Another person who spoke in support of Wilhelmi was former Medfield Police officer, Kevin McClay who stated, "I worked with John for 3 years and I'm currently with the Boston Police." Referencing one candidate who will be interviewed and who has worked in the City of Providence, he went on to say, "Policing is different in a big city. With all due respect, the analytics are fine, but you are missing the intangibles."

Medfield Officer, Joe Brienze spoke on behalf of the Police League and showed concern about "out of state" candidates being hired in Medfield, pointing out that these candidates won't be familiar with MA laws and won't know the court system, the collective bargaining, personnel issues and more. He expressed the importance of Wilhelmi's tenure and experience in Medfield, and stated, "with 40 years of experience, no blemishes on his record, knowledge of this town, connections he has built, leadership skills and the respect of the department."

Rosemary Mann, daughter of recently deceased Police Chief Bill Mann, who was in attendance with her sister Nina and her mother, Elisabeth Mann, spoke briefly simply stating that her Dad had expressed that "Medfield needs a small town chief and he recommended John Wilhelmi for that position." Officer Flaherty stated, "There is no teacher like experience" and Rose also stated, "These police officers are going to bat for John...some departments would never do that." Sgt. Larz Anderson who has been on the force since 2005 stated, "I molded my career after John. I hope he'll be given an interview."

Police Chief Search Committee member Mel Seibolt spoke about the Police Chief Survey which was available for residents and Medfield Police Dept to complete and return.* He stated that the committee received only 5 responses from the MPD. Sgt. Geary responded to that by stating, "The Survey was not specific to John. He is something special. He worked in Dispatch, Patrol, became a Sgt., Deputy Chief and is now Interim Chief." He also mentioned his concern that a 6 hour assessment test was influencing this decision and it shouldn't be the whole thing. Seibolt stated that the Search Committee unanimously voted for the two candidates to go forward. He urged the Board of Selectman to interview only these two candidates. There were others who stressed that a 6 hour assessment exercise should not be chosen over 40 years of experience. Conlon responded to that by saying that the assessment was not the "end all, be all", it was a part of the process.

Finally, Selectman Peterson stated that he has gotten to know Wilhelmi over these past few years and read very complimentary statements from the surveys completed by those in the MPD, however he felt the 7 months of work put in by the Search Committee should stand . Selectman Murby said he has a profound respect for John Wilhelmi, but he must respect the work of the committee and their recommendations for interviews and he went on to say, "much of what we are hearing now is what we should have heard 7 months ago." Chairman Marcucci concluded this portion of the meeting indicating that they have posted the interviews for the 2 candidates and they will plan to conduct these interviews on Wed, 3/13. A decision may be made to offer the position to one of them, or they could decide to see more candidates after these interviews.

Interviews are scheduled for Michelle Guerette and Brian Pichnarcik on Wednesday at 7pm at the Town House, Chenery Meeting Room, 2nd floor.

*Two surveys were taken. One was a Citizen Survey for residents and the other was a Confidential Survey for members of the Medfield Police Dept.