'We Have To Earn It': New Tewksbury Chief On Public Trust

TEWKSBURY, MA — Tewksbury's new police chief, Ryan Columbus, started his new job June 19, in a moment of national focus on police violence and bias.

Following the death of George Floyd in the custody of Minneapolis police in May, Black Lives Matter protests spread across the country, including to Tewksbury. Demands from activists ranged from reforms like the 8 Can't Wait suite of police policies to defunding or outright abolishing police departments.

But Tewksbury has seen little of that, beyond the rally on May 31. Town meeting voters on June 22 passed the Fiscal Year 2021 budget without the police budget coming up. Both Columbus and Town Manager Richard Montuori said they have not received any complaints about the department over the last month.

Instead, Columbus said, the department has received public support. In addition to a pro-police "Back the Blue" demonstration Sunday, Columbus said, residents have donated food and coffee to the department. When police officers worked the polls at the town election, June 16, voters thanked them, he added.

Part of the explanation is likely demographic: Tewksbury is more than 90 percent white, has a high median income, and is more Republican-leaning than Massachusetts on the whole. Polling shows white, high-income and Republican Americans have higher trust in police than other groups. The sort of police violence that sparked the protests in Minneapolis disproportionately affects Black people and residents of poorer areas.

But Columbus attributes his department's positive reputation in town to hard work to earn that trust. Tewksbury policy earned the town's trust under former Chief Tim Sheehan, and he plans to build on Sheehan's work.

"The public doesn't owe us anything, we owe them," Columbus said. "It's important for us to be out there in the community, earning their trust every day, in every interaction. We treat people, all people, everyone, with dignity and respect."

The community support for the department is not etched in stone, Columbus said.

"We could lose it with one interaction," he said.

Tewksbury's police department has its history of allegations of misconduct. Columbus was named in a federal lawsuit about a 2013 arrest. Columbus was present for an incident where another officer was accused of using excessive force. The excessive force claim was dismissed. Because of a settlement, Columbus is not allowed to discuss the case, he said.

"I don't like not saying anything about it," the chief said. "I know I didn't do anything wrong there."

While the department has not been subject to heavy public pressure, Columbus is in favor of implementing the 8 Can't Wait suite of reforms, most of which are already covered in the department's use of force policy, he said. The eight reforms include requiring officers to intervene when others use excessive force, requiring reports filed on all uses of force and requiring warnings before shooting.

"We're doing these things already," Columbus said. "But if there's things we can add to policies that make the community feel better, clearly articulates certain things, and makes the officers understand better, then we'll do that."

Any time force is used by Tewksbury police, he said, a report has to be filed and reviewed. Putting a knee on someone's neck, as was done to Floyd, is already banned, Columbus noted.

"Even if you have to use force, once they're in handcuffs, they're in your care and custody," Columbus said. "It's your responsibility to care for them."

Columbus pointed to a particular recent incident, before he was named chief, that he said shows successful de-escalation and restraint by a Tewksbury officer.

According to the police narrative, a man "got within 10 feet of one of the officers and made a punching motion towards him with the knife in his hand. Fortunately, the officer was able to de-escalate the situation which resulted in [him] dropping the knife and being placed in custody."

"In a split second, that could've turned into us having to use deadly force," Columbus said, praising the officer.

Another goal of Columbus's is getting the department certified by the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission, he said.

The political climate isn't the only unusual thing about the moment Columbus is stepping into his new role: the coronavirus has also made policing very different.

"Trying to remain socially distant as a law enforcement officer can be difficult," Columbus said. "Officers should be wearing masks and gloves. We have protocols in place if we have to bring someone into custody. We're doing what we can, and are certainly going to look out for our officers, we still have a job to do."

Columbus was appointed chief after months of assessments beginning in February, throughout which he was the top candidate, Montuori said. He replaces Sheehan, who left the department after many years as chief, at the end of 2019. Columbus has been with Tewksbury police for nearly 20 years.

"Chief Sheehan was a mentor of mine," Columbus said. "I tried to absorb just about everything that he did. he offered that to everybody, to be in a position to learn."

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.