Dighton: Controversy surrounds single police chief candidate from outside department

DIGHTON, Mass. (WLNE) — The union representing Dighton police officers is questioning the town’s process after officials named a single finalist for police chief from outside the department.

Representatives for the union said that the department usually promotes internally, and they fear if the town hires a chief from outside the department it could lower morale for an already small agency.

Town officials announced today that Fairhaven Police Sgt. Timothy Souza is the sole finalist for the position.

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.

Sgt. Nick Barros and Det. Ryan Richards, who represent the union, said Nichols should be made permanent chief and they were blindsided by today’s announcement finding out at the same time the public did.

Souza will be the only candidate interviewed publicly by the board of selectmen next Wednesday.

Barros and Richards said they were told several finalists would be interviewed then.

“The way the town made it sound was that he was already getting the job. When our acting chief went to the town hall, the town administrator told him, ‘We didn’t want you to find out this way,'” Richards, who is also president of the local, said. “It kills the morale because now these younger patrolman don’t see the movement within the department so right now its stalled whether this guy is here for five, 10, 15 years as chief, that stalls the whole movement within the police department.”

A spokesman for the town said Dighton officials are confident in their hiring practices and the selection process.

The union is encouraging residents to attend next week’s selectman’s meeting to voice their concerns.