Marblehead police chief will discuss recommendations Jan. 26

MARBLEHEAD – Police Chief Robert Picariello told the selectmen Wednesday evening that he will come before them Jan. 26 with a plan to address some key recommendations in the Strategic Policy Partnership consultant?s report on his department.The chief said he will start daily walking police beats and bi-weekly staff meetings, beef up training for all police officers, improve disciplinary practices, hiring procedures and the police relationship with the schools and begin working toward accreditation.Staff meetings will begin next week and walking beats will run April 1-Christmas Walk. Some of his plans impact the budget and Picariello said he would discuss those with Town Administrator Tony Sasso.Selectmen asked for a written copy of his report on Jan. 21 so they could read it before the meeting and gave him 12 months to fully implement the improvements, with the understanding that accreditation is a two-year process.?If I can do this in a shorter time I will,” Picariello said.Selectman Judy Jacobi asked Picariello to remove tinted windows from the cruisers, improve performance evaluations for all officers and assign a lower-ranking officer as court liaison. Selectman Jackie Belf-Becker asked for monthly progress reports.