Police Chief Stephen DuBois Takes Command

In a moving change of command ceremony at City Hall, now retired Portsmouth Police Chief David "Lou" Ferland officially transferred authority to new Police Chief Stephen DuBois before a packed council chamber of city police officers, police commissioners, city officials and residents.

DuBois then accepted the police chief’s badge from his wife, Lara, as his two daughters, Molly and Samantha, and Police Commission Chairman John Golumb and Ferland looked on. He then issued his first general order to accept the command.

DuBois said he grew up in Dover and joined the Portsmouth Police Department in 1991, which became his second family.

DuBois said he accepted the challenge to advance his career by never being satisfied with the status quo. “It is my job to challenge to organization to be better than it was the day before.”

He described the police as the caretakers for the City of Portsmouth. The only thing between order and chaos is the thin blue line of police officers and the police officers here do that everyday. “Can you think of a profession more noble than to be the caretaker of people?”

He said the relationships that police build with people in the community will help Portsmouth continue to be the safe place it is today with events like last week’s National Night Out.

He recognized Ferland as “my caretaker for the past three years.”

He recalled how he and Ferland took over two months after former Police Chief Michael Magnant left in 2009. He thanked Ferland for entrusting him with the job of shepherd as he moves onto greener pastures.

He made his second general order as police chief where he named Ferland as the first official police department historian. DuBois said the police department will embark on an exciting new journey “and I am honored to be your chief during this journey.”

Ferland, who completed his 30-year career as a police officer, fought back the tears, as he reflected on all the challenges that were met during his tenure as chief and as a police officer after he joined the police force in 1982. He noted that during his tenure, 5,269 police officers died in the line of duty nationwide, including three of his friends.

One of those police officers was Greenland Police Chief Michael Maloney, who was killed in April during a drug raid. The others were State Police Sgt. Jim Noyes, who died during an armed standoff in Gilford in 1994 and Maine Game Warden Bill Hanrahan, who died in 1992 of a heart attack after arresting two poachers.

Ferland said he knew it was time for him to retire and let DuBois lead the police department. He compared being a police officer to sandpaper that gets rubbed and rubbed until the sand is gone and the paper is smooth. “Much of my sand has worn away and I know that it is time to change command.”

Ferland said he is moving to take a faculty position at Great Bay Community College in September where he will teach history, English, and criminal justice. “I am a lucky man. I am indebted to so many,” Ferland said.

He also quoted the German writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe when he said, “Be bold and mighty forces will come to your aid.” He said his officers and support staff often demonstrated that during his tenure as police chief.

“I hope I was bold and I hope I was there for you as well,” Ferland said.

He also said he had one last thing to tell his family as police chief: “I’ve made my last rounds, I’m coming home. Goodnight and stay safe," which drew great applause.

During the ceremony, former NH Executive Councilor Ruth Griffin gave Ferland a half a dozen peaches and said, “When you’re into another profession, I will give you the other half."

He also received a certificate from Susan Delaney of the National Visa Center and the State Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs at Pease International Tradeport and an American flag from the New Hampshire Air National Guard at Pease Air National Guard Base.

Golumb said Ferland always demonstrated great leadership as chief and that he enjoyed working with him. He said he will enjoy working with DuBois for the same reasons.