SAUGUS — Ronald Giorgetti has been named the interim chief of the Saugus Police Department.
Chief Domenic DiMella retired after 29 years with the department at the end of August. Giorgetti confirmed he assumed the position of interim chief at the start of the week.
Giorgetti was appointed a Saugus patrolman in February 1994. He was assigned to the Saugus Police drug unit five years later, and promoted to sergeant in 2004. He became a lieutenant detective in 2008, a role he kept four years. In 2012, he assumed the position of assistant chief to DiMella.
His responsibilities in this role became more administrative.
“I assisted the chief with the day-to-day operations of the department,” said Giorgetti. “I assisted with budgetary issues and the administrative duties within the offices of the chief.”
Giorgetti was speaking with concerned citizens on a daily basis to address their complaints, and working within the department to make sure the officers received the necessary tools and training to perform their respective duties, he said.
Town Manager Scott Crabtree said he had faith Giorgetti would serve the town well as interim chief.
“He has been the assistant chief for some time, so that makes for a smoother transition,” said Crabtree. “There have been recent changes in how applicants are assessed and evaluated and appointed, and so we’re looking at what the options are and what the procedure would be and how we’re going to move forward.”
Crabtree is unsure whether assessment will be done through an exam or assessment panel, or whether the new hire will be brought on from within the department. The town manager has the final appointing authority.
“I have the utmost confidence in Interim Chief Ron Giorgetti,” said Crabtree, who served as a police officer until 2004. “I’ve known him many years. We got on the police department at the same time. I think he’ll do a great job in the interim while we put a process in place to appoint the permanent chief.”
