Tisbury regroups in wake of chief's departure
The Tisbury selectmen and the Tisbury Police Department tried to move forward during the week since police Chief John Cashin left his job on May 20.
After appointing Tisbury Officer Daniel Hanavan interim chief last week, the selectmen announced plans to hire Robert Wasserman, a West Tisbury resident and international security consultant, to help the town with police management issues, which he has done before.
Tisbury Police Department interim chief Dan Hanavan. Photo by Ralph Stewart
The selectmen said they reached a mutual decision with Mr. Cashin that he would leave three months short of the end of his three-year contract. They appointed Officer Hanavan as interim chief through October 12.
Officer Hanavan joined the Tisbury Police Department in 1989. Three years ago, he competed with Mr. Cashin as a finalist for the chief's job.
Tisbury Police Officer Michael Gately, the union's shop steward, said this week Chief Hanavan's appointment has been well received, both in the police department and in the community.
"At the town picnic last Monday, people were approaching him and telling him, 'Congratulations, it should have been you in the first place,'" Officer Gately said. "Chief Hanavan is universally liked. A lot of people from the town have interacted with him and already know him."
In a phone call yesterday, town administrator John Bugbee said that compensation for Chief Hanavan's increased responsibilities is still under negotiation.
At 4 pm on Tuesday, Mr. Bugbee and selectman Geoghan Coogan met with seven of the police department's 12 officers in a brief public meeting held at the station.
Mr. Coogan, elected April 28, introduced himself as the new selectman. He said that selectmen Jeffrey Kristal and Tristan Israel agreed he would represent them at the meeting.
Mr. Coogan formally announced Officer Hanavan's appointment as interim chief and the selectmen's decision to hire Mr. Wasserman, to try to help them correct problems with police department.
"We've got to look back and also look forward, so we're not looking for a new chief every three years," said Mr. Coogan. He then asked the representatives of the media to leave, so that specific personnel issues could be discussed in a private session.
Reactions to the meeting were mixed. Chief Hanavan said yesterday that although it was brief, a few of the officers expressed concerns to Mr. Coogan. The chief said the meeting provided a good exchange.
Officer Gately said in a follow-up phone call that he was disappointed that all three selectmen were not on hand. "Some officers have mentioned their concerns to me as the union shop steward about having less interference in the daily operations of the department by the selectmen and town administrator," he said.
When asked in a phone call yesterday about Officer Gately's comment, Mr. Bugbee said, "I think we're going to discuss any and all concerns that the department has, and I think we look forward to getting on the same page."
Mr. Bugbee added that he thought it was helpful to hear the officers' concerns, and that more meetings should be held. Although none have been scheduled, Mr. Bugbee said he expects Mr. Wasserman to help everyone decide how often to meet and what topics to cover.
According to the selectmen's press statement last week, Mr. Wasserman will conduct a structural assessment of the police department and act as a resource for the town in police matters.
Mr. Wasserman is already familiar with the department after conducting an in-depth review and completing a 25-page assessment of it in 2001. He is the chairman of the Strategic Policy Partnership, a group that assists police and government agencies with performance improvement and policy development.
The selectmen also sought Mr. Wasserman's advice in conducting a search for a new chief in 2006, when Chief Cashin was selected.
"I think the roadmap we used last time was something articulated to me over the phone," Mr. Bugbee said yesterday, adding that he is drafting a financial agreement for Mr. Wasserman's upcoming services.
"We want to use him as a consultant - not to do a study - but to give a guide for us and a guide for the department," Tristan Israel, chairman of the selectmen, said in a phone call yesterday.
Mr. Israel said the selectmen's budget already includes some funds for consultation services.
Union talks stalled
In the meantime, contract negotiations between the Tisbury Police Union and the town remain stalled.
Currently, the Tisbury Police Department is operating under a contract that expired on June 30, 2007. A mediator from the state's Joint Labor Management Committee has been working with both sides, without resolution.
Last Thursday, Tisbury town officers and Tisbury Police Union representatives and their attorneys met for a mediation session with the Massachusetts Joint Labor Management Committee in Boston.
Officer Gately and Mr. Bugbee both said arbitration is the next step.
In other police department matters, Mr. Bugbee said the town's attorney has requested an extension on responding to a complaint of sexual discrimination, harassment, and retaliation, filed on April 7 with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD) by Tisbury Police Officer Kelly R. Kershaw.
Officer Kershaw said yesterday she has taken leave until some scheduling issues are worked out. Mr. Bugbee, who oversees all municipal employees, said he could not comment on personnel issues.
