The task of finding a new police chief in Edgartown is ruffling feathers, mostly within the police department.
The Vineyard Gazette reports tensions within the department, which officers say date back to 2015, surfaced at Monday’s Board of Selectmen meeting as a selection process was discussed.
Officers say the tension is a result of the last search for a police chief when Dave Rossi was promoted from patrolman to chief at the recommendation of labor attorney John Collins who served as interim chief. In December, Rossi took an early disability retirement after suffering a heart attack.
Many officers at Monday’s Selectmen meeting supported hiring a new chief from outside of the department. Other’s advocated for hiring from within.
Selectmen have contracted a Tewksbury firm, Integrity Testing, for $9,500 to assist with finding and vetting candidates.