The selectmen simply went with the recommendation of a highly respected police chief. He recommended someone be appointed from within. One could argue the Chief should not have gone that one step further by naming a name. At least not in public. This really put the Board on the spot. But what is done is done. By all accounts, our next police chief is a fine choice.

"...about this sneaky, sleazy political appointment."

Whoa !! Why should Seekonk expend money and resources on an all-out search for a new Chief when the simplest thing is to advance a qualified Seekonk resident to the position. A person who knows the town very well. We don't need an outsider who will rely on this captain to get him through the first 6 months or a year. We don't owe someone from Johnston or wherever all else this job. All you are doing Mr. Brown is stirring the pot of dissention.

Promotion from within is a good thing... it happens everywhere. In this case, the BOS have made the correct decision. Let the job go to a Seekonk resident who has 'skin in the game' (as they say).

Freedom of speech is not stirring the pot of dissention. You people have always been threatened by ideas that don't conform to your narrow selfishness. Sign your postings cowards. Doug Brown.

Sometimes an outsider is a good thing Emcee. No disrespect. I feel that electing within town limits sometimes gives that NIMBY issue (not in my back yard) an outside source can offer new and fresh ideas, a non-bias side of arguments that sometimes get out of hand in our little town. I honestly believe we should be a tri county because of peoples opinions on what is and is not good for the town. Those attitudes have left me with no privacy due to a new development that was forced in their hands because they didn't know what they were doing. Besides they advertise teachers positions and other town position jobs, why not this one. Its the right man or women for the job. To me it seems more segregated in this town.

Doug,
I agree with you. More often than not new ideas and/or outsiders are rebuked in this town. (i.e) the stirring the pot comment. Also, if an outsider was hired I think its safeto assume he or she would be highly and experienced and well qualified that they would NOT have to ride anyones coat tails as suggested above~thos is where the fear of someone new with a strong personality may ruffle the feathers of the small town small minde thinkers and employees.

Jenny: For many positions, "new ideas" are embraced, But the position of police chief is highly regulated by the state and federal government. In other words, mavericks need not apply.

Secondly, even though I agree with Mr Mclintock that the process could have been handled a bit better, that does not necessarily mean that the "alleged" appointee is riding someone's coattails. I don't think Chief Charron would risk his reputation by making this recommendation.

BTW, did you hear the Chiefs glowing recommendation? It sounds like he may have been riding his likely successors coattails rather than the other way around:).

This is just Seekonk being Seekonk.

Those who think the position should have been posted & a committee set up to look for another police chief. Let me ask you this: How many companies have a position available and will chose a person from within the company for the job? Most positions will be filled in by someone from within before someone on the outside gets hired. They don't need to train the person for the job.

If our highly regarded police Chief recommended him then that's good enough for me. He's run his department better than any Chief I remember in the past. No drama! Deserving Officers should be promoted from within. Who else’s recommendation would you want?

My hope for the department going forward is a greater commitment to hiring women, a stronger emphasis on preventing violence and crime, a resolve to handle personnel issues through quality improvement, and an openness to suggestions and feedback from the community.

Captain Mace is the right person, period. In no way was I referring to him in my comment about search committee resulting in hirings by the town. Our search committees are exemplary.