Nashua Police Chief Carignan To Retire

NASHUA, NH — The Nashua Police Department will have a new police chief soon as its current chief has decided to take a job in the private sector.

Chief Michael Carignan informed the Nashua Police Commission of his decision to retire after 28 years with the department. The commission will accept his resignation formally at a future date. The commission has decided to name Deputy Chief Kevin Rourke as Carignan’s replacement.

Rourke has been deputy chief since 2019 and has been with the force since the late 1990s. He has been a member of the command staff since 2017. Rourke also worked for the Milford Police Department.

“In addition to his current assignment as deputy chief of uniform operations, he has held leadership roles within the Department since 2009,” according to a news release. “Rourke has been recognized with numerous recognition and commendation awards and has been a member of specialty units including the traffic enforcement unit, the bicycle unit, the underwater recovery/dive unit, and the clandestine laboratory unit.”

Rourke received a criminal justice degree from UMass/Lowell and also serves in a number of volunteer positions. He also serves with the Hillsborough County South Drug Court team and is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police.

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