Marblehead selects new police chief

MARBLEHEAD – Selectmen have unanimously appointed Police Lt. Robert Picariello as the next police chief of Marblehead.The appointment is effective Sunday, May 20. Town Administrator Tony Sasso will negotiate a salary with the new chief before the appointment takes effect. Retired Police Chief James Carney received $105,503 last year.Selectmen Jeffrey Shribman, Judy Jacobi, Jackie Belf-Becker and James Nye were all in favor of the appointment. Selectmen Chairman Harry Christensen, whose relative, Police Lt. Mark Mills, was not on the recommended list, could have voted without conflict but recused himself because he had not participated in the process up to that point.After the vote Lt. Picariello said, “I am excited about this and I look forward to getting to work.”In order of Civil Service consultant ranking, Police Lt. Robert Picariello received the highest exam score, followed by Lts. David Millett and Matthew Freeman.All three are Marblehead High graduates.Picariello is a 20-year officer and a town cemetery commissioner who has taken courses in business administration at Salem State College.Millett is a Navy veteran and traffic officer with 33 years in the department and a sociology degree from Salem State College.Freeman has 18 years experience in the department and a master’s degree in criminal justice from Western New England College, and he is a lifelong resident of Marblehead.