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Posted by: DeputyFife

Published: 02/27/2007
Five finalists for Topsfield's top cop job
By Ethan Forman
Staff writer



TOPSFIELD - Two police sergeants, two chiefs and the acting chief in town are finalists to become Topsfield's successor to retired Chief Dan O'Shea.

The six-member Police Chief Search Committee met with selectmen last night in Proctor School and named names after a four-month search that included 11 meetings, mostly held behind closed doors, though the committee held a forum to get input from residents.
The search committee winnowed a field of 61 applicants with the help of retired Middleton police Chief Paul Armitage.
Those in line for O'Shea's former post are (in alphabetical order):
* Salem Sgt. Michael Andreas
Andreas has been a member of the Salem Police Department since 1996. A year ago, he was a runner-up for the police chief's job in Salisbury. Before that, Andreas served as assistant commandant of cadets, at the rank of major, at Norwich University in Vermont. A veteran of the first Gulf War, the former Army captain has served as the Salem Police Department's daytime shift commander and anti-terrorism officer.
* Saugus Sgt. Leonard Campanello
Campanello has worked as a detective and a night patrol supervisor for the Saugus Police Department, according to published reports. * Pelham, N.H., Chief Evan Haglund
Haglund, 51, told selectmen last month he plans to retire at the end of May because of a change in the New Hampshire retirement system that added five years to his 29 years of service.
* Topsfield acting Chief Gerald "Jerry" Harrison
Harrison has more than 31 years of experience on the Topsfield police force and has worked and been in charge of traffic details at the Topsfield Fair.
He has been the officer in charge of elder affairs for the department, trying to prevent senior citizens from being victims of scams, identity theft and fraud. He also has served as the department's liaison for local sex-offender inquiries.
* Merrimack, N.H., Chief William Mulligan
Mulligan became chief in 2002, and he is a 30-year veteran of the force. He was the department's former deputy chief for 17 years. He graduated the criminal justice master's program at Western New England College, a move he credited with his ability to step up to chief, he told the college's alumni magazine in 2003.
Last fall, selectmen charged a committee made up of Chairman Steve Carroll, Clerk Lynne Bermudez, and members Bette Cullinan, Nancy Luther, Jack Minnehan and Dick Carlson, with coming up with at least three possible chiefs.

Instead, the committee gave the board five policemen to pick from.
Carroll said the depth of the field made picking a finalist difficult.
"The five candidates you have are supremely qualified," Carroll said. "You can't go wrong." He said at least five of the six search committee members voted for each finalist.
Whoever is picked will oversee a department of 10 full-time officers, including the chief, three sergeants and six patrolmen; 14 part-time officers; an administrative assistant; and 10 full- and part-time E-911 operators.
The job was advertised with a salary range of $59,000 to $81,000, plus Quinn Bill incentives.
Selectmen plan to conduct interviews next Monday and Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Proctor School, 60 Main St. Two candidates would be interviewed on Monday and three on Tuesday, selectmen Chairman Stephen Clark said.

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Posted by: DeputyFife

Published: 03/05/2007
Police chief candidates interview tonight, tomorrow
By Ethan Forman
Staff writer



TOPSFIELD - Five veteran police officers will have at least 45 minutes to make their pitch to be the town's next chief tonight and tomorrow.
Tonight, selectmen are scheduled to interview Topsfield acting Chief Sgt. Gerald "Jerry" Harrison at 7 p.m., and Pelham, N.H., Chief Evan Haglund at 7:45 p.m., according to the selectmen's office.
Tomorrow, Merrimack, N.H., Chief William Mulligan goes on at 7 p.m., Salem Sgt. Michael Andreas follows at 7:45 p.m. and Saugus Sgt. Leonard Campanello interviews at 8:30 p.m.

The Topsfield Police Chief Search Committee recommended the five to selectmen last week.
The following profiles (in alphabetical order) were taken from resumes, cover letters and in some cases, interviews.
Salem Sgt. Michael David Andreas
Andreas, 41,has deep North Shore ties. He is a 1983 Beverly High graduate and father of two who lives in Danvers. He has 23 years of experience as a police and military officer. He was a runner-up for the chief's job in Salisbury last year.
Andreas served as an officer in the Army from 1987 to 1993. As a captain, he led a divisional cavalry troop of 142 soldiers across Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Iraq in the first Gulf War. He earned the Bronze Star, among other medals. "That was outstanding," he said of the experience. "It's all leadership. I do not think there is a situation that can arise that can fluster me."
Andreas, who knew former Topsfield Chief Dan O'Shea well, said he would like to move to town if he gets the job, though it's not a requirement.
Earns: $77,944 in 2006, including $714 from details.
Education: Bachelor's degree, criminal justice, Norwich University; master of arts, criminal justice, Anna Maria College, Paxton.
Experience: 11 years on the Salem Police Department, where he is an officer in charge and a patrol supervisor of the day shift. He was a division commander for Salem's Haunted Happenings. He was the assistant commandant of cadets at Norwich University, the nation's oldest private military university.
Saugus Sgt. Leonard Campanello
Campanello touts his education and his work on a drug enforcement unit as qualifications for the chief's job.
"My work in that area has allowed me to build a network of relationships with individuals across the law enforcement spectrum," Campanello said in his cover letter.

"What attracted me to this particular job is I don't want to be a chief (just) any place, I want to be a chief in a place that reflects my values," he said in an interview. He likes that Topsfield is a, small, tight-knit community on the North Shore. He said this is the only chief's job he plans to apply for and he is honored to be a finalist.
Campanello said his "education speaks for itself" - he has degrees from Boston and Northeastern universities. He won a citation for more than 100 drug-related arrests in 1999.
Earns: $78,000 with Quinn Bill incentives, not including overtime, details.
Education: Master of science degree, criminal justice, Boston University; bachelor of science degree, Northeastern University.
Experience: A police officer for 17 years, Campanello has worked as a detective sergeant from 2001 until now. He was the sergeant in charge of the department's Bureau of Criminal Investigation. That experience led him to develop relationships with state, federal and local law enforcement agencies. Campanello has taught at the Reading Police Academy.
Acting Topsfield Chief Sgt. Gerald M. "Jerry" Harrison
Harrison has spent his entire career in Topsfield, starting with his first job as an auxiliary patrolman in 1976.
With more than 30 years of experience, Harrison was second in command under former Chief Dan O'Shea. He has served on the command staff for six years. Harrison works to protect senior citizens as a liaison with the Council on Aging.
"I have the skills and experience to succeed in this position," said Harrison in his cover letter. Harrison returned two calls, but he could not be reached on Friday, when he was out of the station most of the day.
Earns: $91,263 in 2006 with $4,573 from details.
Education: Danvers High, Genesee Community College, Batavia, N.Y., Northern Essex Community College, Haverhill; bachelor of science, law enforcement, Western New England College, Springfield.
Experience: Harrison took over as acting chief Nov. 1 and he now manages the department's day-to-day operations. A past treasurer/secretary of the Topsfield Police Relief Association, he became a reserve officer in 1985, spent 10 years as a full-time patrolman and was promoted to senior patrolman in 1995. He became a senior sergeant in 2003. His duties have included scheduling day-to-day operations at the Topsfield Fair.

Pelham, N.H., Chief Evan E.J. Haglund
Haglund, 51, plans to retire in Pelham at the end of May because of a change in the state retirement system that would allow him to add five years to his 29 years of service.
Haglund, a married father of two, Eric, 19, and Erin, 17, has no plans to stop being a police officer.
"I still have a desire to maintain my interest in law enforcement," said Haglund, who has applied for positions in Tyngsborough as well. Haglund lives 35 minutes from town.
Earns: $84,200 a salary, not including incentives.
Education: Bachelor of science, Northeastern University
Experience: Haglund has been the Pelham chief since 2000 and has 29 years of experience as a police officer, mostly in Pelham. He has worked to curb violence in schools, illegal gambling and Internet crimes targeting kids. He also worked to get the town to build a new police station, which opened in 2003.
Merrimack, N.H., Chief William F. Mulligan
Mulligan, 57, of Merrimack has gotten to know the area because his twin brother, James, has been the chief of Georgetown for more than four years. He even managed to get close to former Chief O'Shea.
"I consider him a friend," said Mulligan, father of 26-year-old fraternal twins. If chosen, Mulligan said he would retire from Merrimack to take the Topsfield job.
Earns: $99,000, including benefits.
Education: Associate's degree, criminal justice, bachelor of science, business administration, Hawthorne College, Antrim, N.H.; master's degree, criminal justice administration, Western New England College, Springfield.
Experience: Mulligan has a 33-year law enforcement career in Merrimack. He became acting chief in September 2002 and chief that October. He spent 16 years as deputy chief. He has been a police officer since June 1974. He did a stint as interim Merrimack town manager from March 2004 to January 2005, an experience he said made him want to continue working as a police officer.

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Posted by: Sniper

Andreas is a SOLID cop but I am HIGHLY disappointed to not see Sgt Rick LeBel on that list......... guy practically runs that fucking town but prolly isn't considered because he doesn't kiss anyone's ass !!!!!

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Posted by: girlcop21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sniper Andreas is a SOLID cop but I am HIGHLY disappointed to not see Sgt Rick LeBel on that list......... guy practically runs that fucking town but prolly isn't considered because he doesn't kiss anyone's ass !!!!!

I agree with you about LeBel... was an outstanding head instructor when I was at the Reading MPOC... I also know Andreas from the MPOC... guy is obviously smart and has done a lot, but we used to call him Captain America during the academy... the guy almost broke his arm due to all the pats on the back he gave himself!

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Posted by: Sniper

hahahahaaaa.

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Posted by: DeputyFife

Published: 03/19/2007
Topsfield must vote again to choose top cop
By Ethan Forman
Staff writer



TOPSFIELD - The selectmen are forced to take a second vote to hire a police chief after their unanimous pick accepted another job as top cop in Tyngsborough on Thursday.

"(William Mulligan) notified us this morning that he decided to take the Tyngsborough job," Topsfield selectmen Chairman Stephen Clark said Friday. "He thanked us for our consideration and wished us all the best, but now we have to go back and choose a new person."
This second vote could come as early as tonight if the board is ready decide.
The three selectmen reached Friday said they were not surprised Tyngsborough picked Mulligan, a 33-year veteran officer with the Merrimack, N.H., Police Department, who also filled in as town manager in Merrimack.
"We knew it was a distinct possibility," Selectman Boyd Jackson said.
Knowing he was a finalist in a town that was offering a bigger salary - as much as $19,000 more a year - was a reason selectmen moved "expeditiously" to make a run at Mulligan, Clark said.
So last Monday night, after a brief discussion, all five board members chose Mulligan on a motion by Selectman Dick Gandt.
"Our position was we wanted to offer the job to the guy who was as good as we could find and we also wanted to offer a united front to the voters," Jackson said Friday. The rejection by Mulligan has thrown the months-long police chief search for a loop and there's another twist: The only other runner-up for the Tyngsborough chief's job, Pelham, N.H., Chief Evan Haglund, was also one of the five finalists for the job in Topsfield. His name is once again in play.
"It must be very ironic for them to be where they are," Topsfield Selectman Heidi Bond said of the two New Hampshire candidates, "but also a tribute to them as well." Bond said it was also a tribute to the Topsfield Police Chief Search Committee to have picked such a qualified field that also includes finalists Salem Sgt. Michael Andreas, Saugus Sgt. Leonard Campanello and acting Topsfield police Chief Gerald "Jerry" Harrison. Harrison declined to discuss the hiring process when reached Friday.
Selectmen will likely pass on another round of interviews, Clark said, but they could vote as early tonight at 7:30 in the Proctor School library.
"We will have to see if the board is prepared to vote Monday night or not," Clark said. "I'm not sure."

The selectmen polled Friday declined to reveal whom they favor, now that Mulligan is out of the running.
"I'm going to keep my cards close to the vest," Clark said. "You will learn about my choice when I make it known at a meeting."
Topsfield's search began when Dan O'Shea retired Nov. 1 after seven years as chief. The search committee spent weeks going through 61 rÉsumÉs.
Mulligan earned $98,353 last year, according to Merrimack, N.H., Town Manager Keith Hickey. The Tyngsborough job was advertised at $85,000 to $100,000, compared to the $59,000-to-$81,000 salary range in Topsfield.

And then there were four
* Salem Sgt. Michael Andreas has two decades of command experience as a police officer and in the military. An Army captain who led a cavalry troop in the first Gulf War, he has worked for the Salem Police Department for 11 years where he has led anti-terrorism and intelligence efforts.
* Saugus Sgt. Leonard Campanello has degrees from Boston and Northeastern universities and is a 17-year police officer who helped form a drug enforcement unit, where he got to know other law enforcement agencies in the process.
* Pelham, N.H., Chief Evan Haglund has been on the Pelham force for 28 years and he plans to retire in May. He has been chief since 2000. He worked to curb violence in schools, illegal gambling and Internet crimes against kids.
* Acting Topsfield Chief Sgt. Gerald "Jerry" Harrison has spent his entire career in Topsfield, starting with his first job as an auxiliary patrolman in 1976. Harrison was second in command under former Chief Dan O'Shea. He has served on the command staff for six years.

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Posted by: Mitpo62

Shamshak isn't in the mix?

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Posted by: DeputyFife

Published: 03/20/2007
Topsfield sets sights on Pelham, N.H., chief
By Ethan Forman
Staff writer



TOPSFIELD - Selectmen want Pelham, N.H., police Chief Evan Haglund to take over as their police chief.

If he accepts the job selectmen voted to offer him last night, the 51-year-old Haglund would arrive with a 29-year background in law enforcement, a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice from Northeastern University and managerial law enforcement training with the FBI in Nashua, N.H.
Haglund said he intends to retire in Pelham in May after 27 years with the department, after beginning his career as a police officer in Concord, N.H.
"I have not been officially informed of (the appointment), so I do not want to make a comment," Haglund said last night.
If Haglund accepts the offer, his hiring would be contingent on passing a state police background check and successful contract negotiations.
He would fill the vacancy created when former Topsfield police Chief Dan O'Shea retired Nov. 1. Haglund would oversee nine full-time officers, 14 part-timers, an administrative assistant, and 10 full and part-time dispatchers in a town of 6,400 residents.
Since 2000, Haglund has served as the chief in Pelham, a southern New Hampshire town due north of Lowell and Dracut, with approximately 13,600 people, 28 square miles, and a department of 19 full-timers and 11 support personnel.
Haglund is Topsfield's second choice for chief in a week in a hiring process that began last fall and resulted in five finalists being named. The board's first choice, Merrimack, N.H., chief, William Mulligan, opted last week to accept a job offer in Tyngsborough.
Coincidentally, Haglund was the runner-up for the Tyngsborough job.
Mulligan had been Topsfield's unanimous choice, but last night Haglund was picked with a 4-1 vote, with Selectman John McArdle dissenting.
McArdle preferred to hire acting Topsfield Chief Sgt. Gerald "Jerry" Harrison, another one of the five finalists. Rounding out this list were Salem Sgt. Michael Andreas and Saugus Sgt. Leonard Campanello.
"I don't understand why we want to go to Mr. Haglund," McArdle said. "My opinion at this time, I would offer the position to the interim chief and make it permanent." McArdle said since Haglund was a finalist in Tyngsborough, he wondered how long he would be committed to Topsfield.
Selectman Boyd Jackson said last night he could chance Haglund might leave in several years.

"I had a very difficult choice in distinguishing between Mulligan and Haglund from the start," Jackson said.
Selectmen Chairman Stephen Clark said while he would have preferred to promote from within, and he did not want to slight anyone in the Topsfield department, he believed Haglund could make a positive impact in three or four years as chief.
Selectman Dick Gandt said he spoke with Harrison and told him the competition for the job was fierce.
Still, it's too soon to say if Haglund will take the job and how much he might be paid.
The chief's job was advertised with a salary range of $59,000 to $81,000.
Haglund earned $124,943 in 2006 in Pelham, but that figure is deceptive because it includes an early $35,000 partial payment for time he had accrued under his contract over the years, including vacation and other time. His base earnings were about $89,000, he said, without the payout.
Under a change in the New Hampshire state retirement system, Haglund is also eligible to add five years to his time of service. While he is retiring, he has said he wants to remain active in law enforcement. He said his annual pension has not been determined, but it would be 85 percent of his three highest earning years.
Staff writer Margo Sullivan contributed to this report.

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Posted by: DeputyFife

Published: 03/21/2007
Haglund accepts Topsfield police chief job
By Bruno Matarazzo Jr.
Staff writer



TOPSFIELD - Evan Haglund, retiring police chief in Pelham, N.H., accepted the selectmen's offer yesterday to take the same job here.
Haglund, 51, of Pelham, will begin working at the Topsfield Police Department once contract negotiations with the selectmen are complete, selectmen Chairman Stephen Clark said yesterday.
"We called him this morning, and he said yes right away," Clark said.
Selectmen voted 4-1 on Monday to offer Haglund the job. Selectman John McArdle was the lone dissenting vote, opting to offer the job to Topsfield Sgt. Gerald "Jerry" Harrison, the town's acting chief.
Haglund was one of five finalists for the position vacated by Dan O'Shea, who retired as chief on Nov. 1.
The board's first choice, Merrimack, N.H., police Chief William Mulligan, opted last week to accept a job offer in Tyngsborough. Also in the running were Salem police Sgt. Michael Andreas and Saugus police Sgt. Leonard Campanello.
"I'm very excited," Haglund said. "I was very interested in the position, and I'm looking forward to the challenges."
Haglund says he wants to bring the concept of community policing to Topsfield. He also stresses partnerships with the community, by working closely with the fire and highway departments. "We all serve the public, and we should all work together for that goal," Haglund said.
Haglund plans on commuting from his home in Pelham to Topsfield - a 27-mile trip each way - but he says he would look into moving to Topsfield in the future.
Haglund will oversee nine full-time officers, 14 part-time officers, an administrative assistant, and 10 full- and part-time dispatchers.
He said resistance to change is normal, but he will lay out his agenda to the department and the community when he starts.
"I'm sure they are very dedicated and committed officers, and I'm sure we'll continue that," Haglund said.
The retiring Pelham chief also commended Harrison for the "superb job" of running the department since O'Shea's retirement.
"It's great to see the men support him, and I hope to have the same support," Haglund said.

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