Published: 04/25/2007 Three finalists picked for police chief By Alan Burke Staff writer
MARBLEHEAD - The state Civil Service Commission has chosen three finalists in the competition to become the next Marblehead police chief. The winning candidate will likely be chosen at tonight's meeting of the selectmen. Four lieutenants had applied for the position. Robert Picariello got the highest score, followed by Dave Millett and then Matthew Freeman. The winnowing process included an evaluation by the consulting firm BadgeQuest. The three will submit to interviews by the selectmen tonight, none to last longer than 45 minutes. "It's my goal that we interview the candidates and that we pick a candidate," said acting Chairman Jeff Shribman. It will be the retiring Shribman's last regular meeting as a selectman. Tonight's board meeting will begin at 6 p.m. at Abbot Hall, although the interview process will likely not begin until past 7 p.m. All three finalists are familiar figures in Marblehead, member Jim Nye said. He puts integrity at the top of the list of qualities he will be looking for. "I'll be voting in the best interests of the town of Marblehead," he said. * A Marblehead High graduate, Picariello has served the department for 20 years and stresses, among other things, work in station operations and shift leadership. A cemetery commissioner, he lists courses in business administration at Salem State College. "My experience includes crisis management, systems administration, training, budgeting, developing policies and procedures as well as ... unsurpassed people skills," he wrote in his rÉsumÉ. * A U.S. Navy veteran and Marblehead High graduate, Millett has worked closely with town officials in his capacity as traffic officer. He began as a patrolman in 1974 and earned a degree in sociology from Salem State College along the way. Among his responsibilities - overseeing and monitoring staffing. Millett gave his goal as chief - "To utilize my superior communication and public relations skills, along with my 33 years of experience in the criminal justice field." * Matthew Freeman, a lifelong Marblehead resident, has a master's degree in criminal justice from Western New England College. Having joined the department in 1989, he notes that he's "patrolled every area of Marblehead by foot, bicycle, patrol boat and patrol car." On his rÉsumÉ, Freeman underlines his "deep commitment to the community" and his "reputation for fairness, dependability and teamwork."
Because Chairman Harry Christensen's brother-in-law Mark Mills had also been a candidate, the veteran selectman had excused himself from the selection process. That concern has been erased, but after conferring with town counsel yesterday Christensen was torn over the prospect of participating, calling the likelihood doubtful. "I'm nervous," he said. "I haven't taken part in any of the discussions or any of the negotiations at all." While "eager" to help make the selection, he worries that a losing candidate might later question his vote on that basis. "I wouldn't want to flaw a process that has been the best I've ever seen for selecting a Marblehead chief of police."
Published: 04/26/2007 Picariello chosen as new Marblehead police chief By Alan Burke Staff writer
MARBLEHEAD - Lt. Robert Picariello, a Marblehead police officer since 1987, has been chosen by selectmen as the new chief.
The four selectmen voted unanimously for Picariello last night. The decision came despite strong and remarkably similar presentations by all three finalists, all Marblehead police officers. Two board members cited the fact that Picariello was the high scorer in a Civil Service evaluation conducted by a consulting firm hired by the town. Picariello will replace retired Chief James Carney. In his interview with the board, Picariello, 43, stressed his "people skills. ... I seriously like people. Almost anything can happen if you talk to people the right way. "We need to get out on the street," Picariello said. "Out of the cars. Into the schools. ... I believe there's some sort of disconnect between the police and the community." He recommended public visibility for the department and noted the importance of winning over kids. A patrolman stopping at an elementary school "and going in and having lunch with the kids is not the worst thing you could do." He promised to take citizen complains - even against police officers - seriously. "Wherever the investigation takes you it takes you," he said. In a period of tight budgets, Picariello presented himself as a candidate with practical budget experience - some of it gained as a member of the town's Conservation Commission. He cited an awareness of the Police Department's often-strained finances. "The challenge is keeping the services up ... overtime costs down," he said. In addition, he listed his efforts to upgrade the department's technology. Asked about past membership in the police union, he acknowledged the difficulties of now becoming a manager. "It is a challenge. I recognize what my role must be. ... My loyalty will be to the town." Low morale is a problem in the department, he said. The men want strong leadership and strong discipline, he said. "And they need to know that their leaders care for them," he said. The selectmen acknowledged the difficulty in choosing among Picariello, veteran Lt. Dave Millett and Lt. Matthew Freeman. "I think the community is going to be lucky whoever we choose," said acting Chairman Jeff Shribman. (Chairman Harry Christensen had recused himself when a relative was one of the early candidates.)
All three applicants have Marblehead roots, all three cited the need to return the DARE officer and a patrolman for the schools, and all three mentioned the value of getting officers out of their cars and onto the street. Additionally, in a pressure-packed atmosphere - the selectmen's meeting room was filled - each showed remarkable poise. Picariello was the only candidate without a college degree, listing instead his graduation from Marblehead High, the Massachusetts Criminal Justice Training Council and business courses at Salem State College. Selectman Jim Nye participated despite having lost his voice - member Jackie Belf-Becker asked her questions and his, too. But when it came time to vote, Nye was able to rasp out a few sentences in a high-pitched, cartoonish whisper. "I feel like Michael Jackson," he said to much laughter. Picariello's appointment takes effect May 20, pending salary negotiations.
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