3 Finalists Selected For Milford Police Chief Job

MILFORD, MA — After nearly a year in the works, the Milford Police Chief Selection Committee has released its top three picks to take over for interim chief Michael Pighetti. Two of the picks are from out of state, including one chief who has been handling the Fotis Dulos case in Connecticut.

The chief selection process began last March when the committee began meeting. The group selected Resource Management Associates of Illinois in September to help find candidates. The selection committee has been reviewing and interviewing candidates over the last few months.

The three finalists are Baltimore police Maj. James Rhoden Jr., New Canaan, Conn., Chief Leon Krolikowski, and Falmouth police Capt. Brian Reid. The selection process has cost the town close to $60,000 so far.

The selection process came after a somewhat fraught departure for former chief Thomas O'Loughlin — who is now a candidate for an open Board of Selectmen seat.

The Board of Selectmen in September 2018 voted not to renew O'Loughlin's contract amid concerns over his job performance. By May 2019, the board voted to replace him with Pighetti, and O'Loughlin's last day was in June. Pighetti was a former Milford chief, and O'Loughlin served as chief for 17 years.

Baltimore's Rhoden has recently applied to be chief in Gloucester and Tallahassee, Fla. New Canaan Chief Krolikowski, meanwhile, was in charge of the investigation into the death of Jennifer Dulos. Her husband, Fotis Dulos, was charged with her murder last month — but he died Jan. 30 after a suicide attempt.

The Milford Board of Selectmen will review and select the final candidate in the coming weeks.