Deputy Police Chief is Named

A 27-year veteran of the is the town's new deputy chief.

Sgt. James Heron was sworn in Tuesday as deputy chief, Police Chief Thomas O'Loughlin announced. His appointment came after a selection process that included an interview and screening of credentials. He was chosen from a field of five internal candidates.

Heron, who joined the Milford department in 1984, was promoted from officer to sergeant in 2003. As deputy chief, the department's second-in-command, he will earn $93,959 initially, but that amount will be reviewed by the town's Personnel Board.

As sergeant, he earned more than that with overtime pay and private detail pay, O'Loughlin said. As an administrator, he will no longer be eligible for either.

Heron, 50, has a master's degree in criminal justice from Anna Maria College and a bachelor's degree in the same field from Western New England College, according to a department press release.

As deputy chief, he takes a position last held by , who retired in January. Marino, along with O'Loughlin and town Fire Chief John Touhey, were on a panel that interviewed the five applicants for the position.

The other applicants were: Lt. James Falvey, Sgt. Kara Maguire, Sgt. Peter Rizoli and Sgt. John Sanchioni.

Heron's responsibilities in the new role will include overseeing patrol officers, personnel matters, writing policies and procedures, overseeing the auxiliary police and combined fire-police dispatch, and other functions, O'Loughlin said.

O'Loughlin, who has worked with Heron for more than nine years, said of his choice: "He's shown he has the skills and abilities to fulfill that responsibility."

Heron grew up in Milford and lives in town with his family. He is a U.S. Army Reserves veteran and, before his appointment as police officer, worked as a corrections officer.