Concord Selects Interim Police Chief

A retired police chief from Westwood has been selected to lead the Concord Police Department on an interim basis as the town seeks a permanent replacement for Barry Neal, who left the department earlier this month. 

Town Manager Chris Whelan announced Friday afternoon that William Chase has accepted an appointment as Interim Chief of the Concord Police Department. 

Chase retired from the Westwood Police Department this past January after 10 years as chief. Previously, Chase served as Police Chief in the town of Harvard from 1995 to 2003, along with stints in Framingham, the US Dept of Labor, and the Watertown Police Department, according to Whelan.  

“I am very pleased to have been able to locate an interim chief with great depth and breadth of experience in law enforcement in Massachusetts with a strong commitment to professionalism," Whelan said in a statment. "I think he will continue to proud tradition of the Concord Police Department."

Chase, who has Master's degrees in Public Administration and Criminal Justice, came highly recommended by previous employers as a law enforcement professional with a commitment to ethical behavior and community service, Whelan said in the announcement, which notes Chase was selected after the town interviewed five retired Massachusetts police chiefs. 

Chase agreed to accept the appointment for between five and seven months while the town conducts a search for a permanent CPD chief. His appointment takes effect on Monday, Oct. 1. Until that time, CPD Lt. Tom Mulcahy will continue to serve as acting chief.