After 4 Months, Seekonk Has No New Police Chief

Four months after the Board of Selectmen selected Dean Isabella to serve as the new Police Chief, an investigation into his background is still not complete.  “I can tell you that the Board of Selectmen and I are fully aware of an incident that occurred 20 years ago and Mr. Isabella has been forthright with all of our questions,” Town Administrator Shawn Cadime said in a statement last week. “Mr. Isabella is currently undergoing the Town’s comprehensive background check, which is conducted on all applicants who have been given a conditional offer of employment. After the background check is complete and the Board of Selectmen vote on an offer of employment, the Town will be prepared to make a public statement regarding the position of Police Chief.”

Last month, Chairman Justin Sullivan told the Reporter the background check for Isabella was still ongoing. “Hopefully it should be done within the next few weeks,” Sullivan said at the time. Isabella worked for the Department of Children, Youth, and Families in Rhode Island as assistant director of Child Services, overseeing the Child Protective Services unit that investigates child abuse. Isabella, who lives in Narragansett, had been a member of the Providence Police Department since 1987 and retired as a captain in 2019.

Last January, members of the police department lobbied selectmen on behalf of Acting Chief David Enos. Enos was appointed to serve as Chief on an interim basis following the retirement of Frank John in July 2019. John had been placed on administrative leave in March 2019 after being in the position for six months. At the time, Enos had been appointed to serve as Deputy Chief. Under the terms of Enos’ three-year contract, his salary is currently $122,400. That figure will increase to $124, 848 next February.