Swampscott Officially Opens Permanent Police Chief Search Friday

SWAMPSCOTT, MA — Swampscott will move another step closer to a permanent police chief on Friday when the position is posted for applications.

Interim Police Chief David Kurz said he conducted three community meetings and got a "strong sense" of what residents want in their next permanent chief, and that input will be used to whittle the initial pool of candidates to be interviewed through essay questions to those candidates deemed qualified.

"Many of those essay questions will really be based on some of the comments and engagement that we had (in the forums)," Kurz told the Swampscott Select Board Wednesday night.

He said community involvement will be key as the process advances to a recommendation of finalists to the Select Board.

"I can assure you the Swampscott community will be engaged and involved in the process," he said.

Kurz said once the finalists are presented to the Select Board, and a candidate is chosen, he will help in finishing the process through background checks and other administrative assistance.

"It's a solid process," he said. "It's proven itself well in many communities throughout New England."

The permanent police chief position is one of three currently open in the town —along with the human resources director and library director.

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(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)

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