Select Board: Chief Rafferty announces plans to retire
By Mike BergerSelect Board Chair Mike Loughran announced at the outset of Tuesday meeting that Police Chief Helena Rafferty has decided to retire after 36 years of service to the CPD, effective with the expiration of her contract on June 30.
Chief Helena Rafferty
Loughran said he will keep the public updated on next steps for selecting a new chief, starting with the appointment of an interim chief. The board also plans to hire a professional consulting firm to assist them with a “comprehensive, nationwide search” for the town’s next chief. Loughran said the position will be open to current Canton police officers as well as outside candidates.
Reflecting on Rafferty’s career of service to the town, Loughran noted that she was only the second female officer in the department’s history when she joined the CPD in 1989, and she later became the first female chief when she was sworn in during a ceremony in June of 2022.
“As the first female police chief in our town’s history, Chief Rafferty has been a trailblazer and earned the respect of her colleagues, town officials and residents alike,” said Loughran.
During the public comment portion of the meeting, Rita Lombardi, a former Select Board candidate and a frequent critic of Rafferty’s, said the town now has a chance for a “new beginning.”
“I applaud her for what she has done over the years,” said Lombardi. “I knew it was a hard decision for her … Let’s work together and be the best we can.”
Later in the meeting, Town Administrator Charles Doody presented an idea of forming a committee to continue to push for progress based on the recommendations of the recently completed independent police audit. The committee would include Doody, Select Board members Loughran and Trish Boyden, Finance Director Randy Scollins, and a member of the CPD command staff. The board voted 4-0 (member Chris Albert was absent) to move forward with Doody’s plan. Doody said he is also making progress on a formal performance review process for all department heads, including himself. A formal draft of the proposal will be up for consideration by the Select Board at its next meeting on May 6.
In other news from Tuesday’s meeting …
See this week’s Citizen to continue reading and for more highlights from the April 22 Select Board meeting. Click here to order your subscription today.
Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=131460
Posted by Mike Berger
on Apr 25 2025. Filed under Top Stories.
Both comments and pings are currently closed.
