Milford Police Chief Group May Update Job Description

MILFORD, MA — The job description for police chief could be revamped before it sits in front of any applicants. The police chief search committee talked over possibly updating the job description at their meeting last week before they start advertising the job this summer. Dino DeBartolomeis, chairman of the committee, said he hopes to have the position posted by the end of May or early June.

The last time the job description was updated was in 2015. The current description requires the candidate to have a minimum of 10 years’ experience in law enforcement and crime-prevention and five years in a command or supervisory capacity. Some of the duties listed in the job description include assisting with collective bargaining; overseeing the department training program and preparing and managing the budget.

DeBartolomeis added that budgetary experience is essential since the police department is one of the biggest budgets in the town, next to the school department. "A person who comes in without budgetary experience and all that is gonna have trouble," DeBartolomeis said. Chief Thomas O'Loughlin said budgeting is an incredibly important aspect of his job, "If you can’t manage the budget, you can’t manage the people," O'Loughlin said.

Social media and technology skills could also make their way into the job description. The committee will review candidates resumes and hold interviews. Once they narrow it down, five candidates will be offered to the Board of Selectmen.

O'Loughlin has been Milford's police chief for the past 17 years but in September the Board of Selectmen voted not to renew his contract. The vote was 2-1 and no reason was given. Following the vote, O'Loughlin filed a lawsuit against the town and a request for injunctive relief while the lawsuit is pending. A judge denied the request in January, letting the town move forward with the search for his replacement. O'Loughlin's contract is up on June 30.

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