We are writing this letter to Town Meeting members to address the last- minute addition of Article 12 to the annual town warrant. This article calls for the removal of the police chief and fire chief from civil service. For the purpose of this letter we speak only for the police chief position. We the members of the Swampscott Police Department have serious concerns over the timing of the article and the implications going forward with such a request.
Civil service has been a longstanding successful practice in Massachusetts for decades that promotes a fair and equitable way to hire a person for civil service jobs. Police and fire department jobs were at one time considered to be positions of nepotism or political favoritism. Civil service was created to prevent that same nepotism and political favoritism. The position of police chief must remain apolitical.
Within the civil service system there are certain demographics that an applicant must declare such as gender, race and veterans status as well as residency. It was determined that residency would help a community to retain local candidates who value the city or town where they reside.
The town administrator has openly criticized the structure of the police department. We question that assessment and point out that the department is and remains one of the most professional departments in Essex County.
Recently, numerous officers were awarded medals at a Select Board meeting where they were praised for their dedication and professionalism. We have accepted younger officers from other police departments who wish to come here because of our reputation among law enforcement agencies that “we do it right.”
In regards to the article of removing the police chief position from civil service, we the members of the Police Department feel that this weakens the position of the chief and that he or she will now be serving at the political will of the Select Board.
The position of the police chief is one that must be able to make decisions without fear of being removed for making those decisions that do not align with the political agenda of the elected officials.
We feel that the police department has excellent upper-level commanders in place now that could step into the chief position and lead the department through the next decade.
The current police captain and four lieutenants have more than 115 years combined law enforcement experience. Within those ranks they have achieved certificates from the FBI supervisory leadership institute, advanced firearms instructors, masters degrees. They include former court prosecutors, training officers and they hold certificates and awards too numerous to list.
We believe that promoting a chief from within the department sends a strong message of support to the men and women who serve our great community. It also benefits the future chief because he or she will have intimate knowledge of the officers who serve under them, know their strengths and weaknesses and shorten the transition period of their new position.
A chief selected from within the department who has already been serving the community for decades understands the needs of our town. They will understand the problems that exist in Swampscott and be able to navigate solutions going forward better than an outsider appointed at the political will of an ever-changing Select Board.
The issue of removing our police chief from civil service is an important one and one that deserves more time and discussion from our elected town body. The format of this “virtual town meeting” is hardly the forum to make such an important decision that will affect Swampscott for years to come. Having never conducted a Town Meeting via social media, can we be confident that everyone will be heard?
We thank you for taking the time to read this letter and respectfully ask you to vote “no” on Article 12.
The men and women of the Swampscott Police Department
