Fall River PD interim chief Furtado rejected for full-time job by city council in 5-4 vote

FALL RIVER, Mass. (WLNE) — Tuesday night, Fall River city councilors rejected a motion to bring interim police chief Kelly Furtado on full-time in a 5-4 vote.

The heated debate on Furtado’s status went on in the chamber for five hours.

Cited was the treatment of former chief Paul Gauvin, who was recently fired after stepping down to captain after an investigation into his behavior.

An outside firm hired to investigate former Chief Gauvin reported 15 policy violations against him.

This includes having an unregistered personal weapons in his locker.

Councilors also voted to ask mayor Paul Coogan to launch a search committee to find new candidate for chief.