DiMella sworn in to cheers, whistles

SAUGUS-When Lt. Mike Annese Monday introduced the new Chief of Police, Domenic DiMella he said, “Welcome to the hot seat, and I do mean hot seat.”But if there was any doubt about the choice Town Manager Andrew Bisignani made when he appointed DiMella, it was swept away amidst a roar of whistles and cheers.DiMella was sworn in before nearly 150 people that rose to their feet in a standing ovation cheering and shouting as he took the oath of office. The crowd included family members, friends, town employees and nearly every officer on the department, as well as the police chief of Malden and a handful of representatives from the State Police and the Sheriff’s Office.Fire Chief James Blanchard called the outpouring of support heartening.”I’ve seen a lot of (ceremonies) with the Police Department and I’ve never seen a collection of people like this,” he said. “This is a good sign.”DiMella, however, is not unaware of the challenges he faces in his new position. Hit hard by budget cuts over the last few years, the department has been operating with both manpower and money stretched thin.But the 19-year veteran said he expects there will be plenty of opportunities along with the challenges and he plans to make the most of them.”Like the new substation opening soon at the mall,” he said.Funded by the Square One Mall the substation allows for a strong police presence in the mall and the ability to book alleged criminals on the spot.”We need to build partnerships with the community,” he said. “You are our eyes and ears.”DiMella took time to thank his parents, Liz and Nick, his wife, Sandy, and daughters, Christine and Michelle, for their support in getting him to his new position.Nick DiMella said he was amazed to see the number of people who turned out for his son’s swearing in.”I’m learning more and more how many people like him,” he said with a smile. “Everyone keeps telling me how great he is.”He said when he learned nearly 20 years ago that his son wanted to be a police officer he had no doubt he’d achieve his goal.”I never put anything past him,” Nick said. “I knew he had the smarts to do anything he wanted.”Nick DiMella said when Domenic took the civil service exam he was 800th on the list in Boston because he wasn’t a veteran.”That hurt him,” he said. “But he was number one in Saugus and he was better off because now he’s chief.”For retired Detective Dana Bates, seeing DiMella sworn in was almost like coming full circle. Bates said he performed the background on DiMella when he first applied to join the force and, when Bates retired last September, DiMella was actually his boss as head of the detective’s unit.He said he thought DiMella would be good for the community and just what the department needed.Bisignani said he only had one thing to say to DiMella regarding his new position: “Remember that it’s lonely at the top, believe me I know and you’ll learn that really quickly, but I’ll be by your side,” he said.