New Bedford’s retiring police chief reflects on long career, obstacles and accomplishments

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (WLNE) — New Bedford Police Chief Paul Oliveira said it’s time to retire.

“I came out of the academy with 29 officers and there’s only three of us left so that’s kind of a sign that it’s time for me to go,” Oliveira joked.

May will mark four years as chief for Oliveira, but he’s been with the department for 32 years.

As some may imagine, he’s seen a change or two throughout his career.

“Policing has changed more in the last five years than probably any time in the course of my career,” he said.

COVID-19 and Black Lives Matter protests led to a smaller police force across the nation and locally, challenging officers like never before, according to Oliveira.

“The profession got exposed in many ways, where we were told to do things better,” Oliveira said.

Around 2020, the department was bleeding officers which made it difficult at times to provide the same services.

Now, Oliveira said he’s proud to see staffing in a much better place with 14 recruits in the academy currently.

Body cameras are also seen as an accomplishment by the chief after they were implemented in September of 2024.

“I’m not going to sit here and tell you we were progressive to get them last year by no means, but I am proud that I was able to get that through the finish line.”

According to Oliveira, body cameras have helped build trust with the community, specifically trust with Central American residents.

As chief, he assigned three officers to work with that population specifically.

“It was really just letting them be heard and what their concerns were and their questions were,” Oliveira said.

Of course with any top job, comes obstacles.

In July 2023, one of the department’s detectives, Lavar Gilbert, was working undercover when he was shot.

“I recall that night vividly showing up at St. Luke’s and entrenching myself with him and his family and then realizing, wait a minute, people were looking at me like ‘what next, what next?’ and being able to wrap your head around it and say ‘ok yeah we have work to do,'” Oliveira said.

Gilbert is okay and the department made an arrest later that month.

As Oliveira looks back on his career, he’s confident good things are ahead.

“I hope and I do believe that I’m leaving the department better than where I found it,” Oliveira said. “And I’m also leaving it, you know, in a good place for someone, whoever my successor is to carry the torch and continue to serve the community.”

The chief’s last day is May third.

There’s no word yet on who may fill his position.