BOSTON (AP) — State Police Maj. Mark Delaney, who oversaw a badly needed upgrade of the department's crime laboratory, as well as an investigation into the prison death of pedophile priest John Geoghan, was appointed as head of the law enforcement agency on Thursday.
"He's a law enforcement officer with 32 years of experience, and he knows the force inside and out," Gov. Mitt Romney said in announcing the appointment.
Delaney succeeds Col. Thomas Robbins, who announced last month he was retiring from the state's largest law enforcement agency to become police chief at Boston University, effective June 12.
Delaney was appointed head of the State Police forensics lab in 2002 and presided over a revamping in the wake of delays in processing DNA evidence.
A major impetus was the high-profile case involving Cape Cod writer Christa Worthington. A 46-year-old single mother and fashion writer, she was found stabbed to death in her Truro cottage in January 2002.
Prosecutors followed initial leads and then took the controversial step of seeking random DNA samples from Truro men for comparison with semen found at the crime scene. In March 2004, they also took a swab from the cheek of Christopher McCowen, who had been Worthington's garbage man.
It took several months before that sample reached the Crime Lab, and then an additional nine months for analysts to examine it. Last April, more than a year after his sample was taken, McCowen was arrested and charged with Worthington's murder. He is awaiting trial.
Under Delaney's leadership, the State Police plans to consolidate its lab functions in a 100,000-square-foot facility later this year, before building a 230,000-square-foot lab by 2012.
The goal is to have a staff of 80 DNA analysts, eliminating the current 1,000-case backlog along the way and guaranteeing a maximum turnaround of one month for future cases. Already processing time has been cut from up to 15 months to as few as six months.
In 2003, he also headed a three-person panel that investigated the death of Geoghan, who was murdered while incarcerated at the maximum-security Souza-Baranowski prison. The panel made a series of recommendations for improving the handling of high-profile prisoners, classifying them for incarceration and for handling problematic prisoners.
During Thursday's announcement at the Statehouse, Delaney said his focus would be counterterrorism operations, reducing highway fatalities and continuing the improvements at the crime lab, which he called "my baby."
He also sought to bolster the force, saying, "There is no greater honor, to my way of thinking, than to serve your fellow man and protect your fellow citizens. I look forward to the challenges that lie ahead and together, with the men and women of the department, we will face them all head-on."
In his new post, Delaney will serve as the 12th colonel of the State Police and hold the dual title of superintendent. He will oversee a force of 2,350 sworn personnel and 435 support staff.
While Robbins served as colonel for only two years, and he will become the fifth recent high-ranking State Police official to leave for high-paying university security jobs, Delaney demurred when asked if he had pledged a long-term commitment to Romney, who leaves office in January.
"I've been here 32 years; I don't plan on going anywhere," Delaney said. "I will serve the governor as long as he wants me on his team."
Delaney received a bachelor's degree from Boston State College and a master's degree from Anna Maria College. He graduated from the State Police Academy in 1974. He previously served in several posts in Middlesex County and the Attorney General's office.
Delaney lives with his wife in Burlington.
Posted by: cc3915
Excellent choice! Good luck Colonel Delaney.
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