Michael Assad Jr. has accepted the job as Rochester’s new chief of police after the Select Board unanimously voted on Monday to offer the Mashpee Police detective sergeant the job, replacing Robert Small who announced his resignation in the spring.
Assad was one of three finalists to interview a final time on Monday, along with John Stowe Jr. and Sean Joyce.
Joyce, a Rochester resident who serves in the Lakeville Police Department, and Stowe, a member of the Bourne Police Department, were both considered by the board to be good choices for the job. At respective ages 53 and 52, both indicated they have no interest in retirement and displayed an appetite for the challenge.
The Select Board was nonetheless impressed with Assad’s extensive list of accomplishments and ongoing, extracurricular commitments at a relatively early career stage. His final interview exhibited clarity of thought as he attacked every question thrown his way by the membership.
Assad’s 23 years in law enforcement include crisis-intervention leadership and crime-scene investigation, including that of bodies, involvement in two major riots at the University of New Hampshire and SWAT team at the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings. He has been to murder scenes and got a confession from a man who murdered his mother. He is also in charge of community service for the Mashpee Police Department.
“He was very squared away … I thought he did excellent,” said Select Board Chairman Brad Morse during a brief deliberation that followed the three interviews.
Board member Paul Ciaburri cited Assad’s involvement with Special Olympics and his activities in the schools and agreed with board member Adam Murphy that Assad is “very personable.”
“He had great eye contact,” said Murphy, himself a Marion Police officer (harbormaster) who was furthermore impressed by Assad’s ability as a communicator, evidence that he is community oriented and a veteran who has given back his time for the sake of other veterans and officers. “He gave all his time back to the service, he understands patrol, and he’s still boots on the ground.”
Murphy also alluded to opportunities Assad had declined including from the FBI. “I felt he did very well in his assessment,” he said.
As explained by Russ Stevens, a public-safety consultant contracted by the town to guide the board through the process, next steps for Assad include signing a conditional letter of offering (of the job) generated by Town Counsel. Pending a background check and medical and psychological evaluations, Assad will then begin negotiations with the Select Board. Presuming an agreement, the town will announce his start date.
“I’m a family man, that’s my passion,” said Assad, who told the board he met his wife Karen when she was 18 years old during a trip to Dublin, Ireland. They have two children, a 15-year-old son William whose go-to sport is soccer, and a 13-year-old daughter Caoimhe, whom he calls “Keeva” and described as “13 going on 30.” Caoimhe is an avid reader, plays volleyball and participates in dance. Both of Assad’s children are straight-A students, according to their father.
Assad volunteers with Heroes in Transition and spoke with admiration for organization founder Cindy Jones, whose son was killed in a helicopter in Afghanistan. Assad is also involved in a foundation that supports first responders’ resilience in recovery from major incidents while on the job.
“It’s very important that we take care of our veterans that come back from overseas with health issues, as well as our officers,” he said.
In terms of leadership style, Assad described his philosophy as “transformational,” explaining that he works for his officers, supporting them with proper tools and training, understanding changes in law and how they affect postcommission.
“Updated trainings are key,” he said, making sure officers know “what they can and cannot do.” He sees his job as “knowing the pulse of what’s going on in the Police Department and what’s going on in Rochester. I prepare officers to take my job and be a leader.”
Toward that end, Assad told the board during his interview that he intends to meet with acting Chief Don Kemmett to learn about the department. Kemmett did not apply for the police-chief job but attended the finalists’ interviews at the request of the Select Board, which wanted his input.
A major concern of the Select Board in the interview process was asking each finalist to weigh in on the challenge of police officer recruitment and retention.
Acknowledging that Rochester is competing with other agencies offering higher salaries, Assad said the town needs to make up the ground by expanding educational incentives to offer more opportunities.
“We’ve got to look outside the box,” he said, suggesting a gas or grocery stipend for an officer each month and to recruit at local colleges. “We can’t just sit back.” Assad also suggested conducting a junior police academy like one Mashpee (his current employer) had done but discontinued. “We have a great, great rapport with our fire department. I think we need to have a great relationship with our brothers and sisters in red.”
Another key concern is Rochester’s future relative to 911 dispatch. Many in town are discontented with membership in the regional dispatch that emanates from Duxbury. All three finalists strongly prefer Rochester having its own dispatch.
Assad is a friend of Mattapoisett Police Chief Jason King and intends to discuss the matter with him and other neighboring chiefs. He said bringing back local dispatch to Rochester is key. “They’re going to know the community better,” Assad said, allowing for the possibility of a tighter circle of neighboring towns sharing a 911 system.
While Joyce’s institutional knowledge as a longtime Rochester resident and staff schedule maker for the Lakeville Police Department were compelling factors for the board, Stowe’s experience as a grant writer also stood out. Assad attended grant school but has applied for only one grant (unsuccessfully). Stowe has been writing grants for the last 15 years, yielding between $200,000 and $300,000 per year for the Bourne Police Department.
The next meeting of the Rochester Select Board was not scheduled upon adjournment. The board will necessarily schedule an executive session to prepare for negotiations with Assad on a contract.
Rochester Select Board
By Mick Colageo