Dighton officials respond to police chief hiring controversy

DIGHTON, Mass. (WLNE) — Dighton officials responded to concerns of the town’s hiring process for its next police chief.

The union representing Dighton police officers previously questioned the town after officials named a single finalist for police chief from outside the department.

“As Town officials, we place great importance in ensuring a fair, transparent, and qualifications-based process for the appointment of Dighton’s next Chief of Police by the Board of Selectmen,” said Dighton Board of Selectmen Chairman Peter Caron in a statement released Monday.

Town officials announced on Feb. 23 that Fairhaven Police Sgt. Timothy Souza was the sole finalist for the position.

“All residents should have confidence in the hiring process,” Caron said. “Based on feedback and questions received by the Town, the Board will be re-evaluating the current process to identify any areas where it may be improved before moving forward.”

Long-time officer George Nichols has been serving as acting chief for the past eight months after the former police chief was charged in an insider trading case last year.

Several officers representing the union said Nichols should be made permanent chief, not an outside figure.

“It kills the morale, because now these younger patrolman don’t see the movement within the department,” said Detective Ryan Richards of Dighton. “Right now it’s stalled, whether this guy is here for five, ten, 15 years as chief, that stalls the whole movement within the police department.”

Caron added that the overall process could be reformed for future cases.

“This week’s Board of Selectmen agenda will include proposed updates to the hiring process for the Selectmen to begin considering and will no longer include the interview of any finalist police chief candidate,” Caron said.