March 28, 2024

Seekonk Pays $12,000 For Police Chief Search

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The town has retained the services of a recruitment firm to screen candidates for Police Chief and Fire Chief. Town Administrator Shawn Cadime said Public Safety Consultants, LLC of Pocasset will be paid $11,900 each for the police and fire departments.

The firm will review resumes, conduct a job task analysis, and will develop questions for candidates and assessment exercises. Written questionnaires will then be sent to candidates. Background checks will then be conducted and three to five candidates will be forwarded to the town’s search committee based on assessment center results.

Members of the police department voiced their support of interim Chief David Enos at the January 22 Selectmen meeting.  

Enos was appointed to serve as Chief on an interim basis following the retirement of Frank John last July. John had been placed on administrative leave in March 2019 after being in the position for six months. Enos had served as Deputy Chief.

At the January 22 Selectmen meeting, Officer Keith Perry cited Enos’ accomplishments over the past year which included the drafting of a level-funded budget, overseeing the hiring process of five new officers, streamlining training department-wide, the completion of multiple FBI leadership courses, the creation of a new traffic enforcement division, and the set up of a new recruitment process.

Fire Chief Michael Healy retired last April. Healy had served as Chief since his appointment in September 2014.

Frederick MacDonald, a veteran firefighter from East Providence, was offered the position by the board of selectmen. MacDonald later withdrew after contract negotiations broke down.

Cadime explained the expenditure for the recruiting firm does not have to be approved by the Board of Selectmen because it is a “service agreement” and not a contract to provide a service. “The monies will come from the surpluses that both departments will experience due to the vacancies left by the two Chiefs,” Cadime added.

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