Chilmark selectmen have now completed restaffing the town police force with Tuesday night’s appointment of Elizabeth Rogers to the department.
Ms. Rogers is a 2011 graduate of Curry College, where she studied criminal justice and psychology. She also interned at Massachusetts State Police and the United States postal inspector’s office before working in June 2013 in the reserve intermittent academy with the Chilmark police department.
Ms. Rogers then worked for the Chilmark police department from June 2013 to July 2014. She went on to the Police Academy from September 2014 to February 2015, sponsored by the Tisbury police. Ms. Rogers worked from her police academy graduation until now with the Tisbury police department. She is also an emergency medical technician (EMT).
Two people applied and were interviewed for the position.
“I based my decision on her experience, in comparison to the other applicant, as well as familiarity,” Chief Jonathan Klaren said. “I think she is a good fit for us, and I’d like to welcome her back.”
“I loved my time as a special [officer] here,” Ms. Rogers said. “I wanted to join the family again.”
Chairman of selectmen Bill Rossi sat in the on the interviews. “Elizabeth stood out to me with her experience in Chilmark and her experience in general, and I thought on day one was ready,” Mr. Rossi said. “I am really happy with the selection.”
Selectman Warren Doty summed up the police staffing frenzy in recent months, which began with the unexpected resignation of Chief Brian Cioffi in December 2016.
“We’ve acted pretty quickly to make changes in the Chilmark police department over the past six months, and I couldn’t be more pleased today with where we are,” Mr. Doty said. “I think the new chief has really done a really great job to get started, and has taken the job really seriously and trying to come in and be a good, new chief. I’m very satisfied with [Sean] Slavin as our sergeant, and now with three full-time officers, Jesse Burton, Bill Fielder, and Elizabeth Rogers, I think just makes a great staff. I couldn’t be more pleased.”
Ms. Roger’s husband, Tisbury Police Officer Jeremy Rogers, joined his wife at the selectmen’s meeting.
In other business, selectmen rearranged their roles, as is the custom every year, and now Mr. Rossi is chairman, James Malkin is vice chairman, and Warren Doty is the clerk.
After a public hearing, selectmen approved a victualler’s license to Elizabeth and Kevin Oliver for the Menemsha Market. In a light moment, Mr. Oliver promised Mr. Doty that the Menemsha Market would indeed have hot coffee.
Selectmen also approved changing Rizwan Malik’s status to full-time permanent employee. Mr. Malik takes the place of longtime, beloved youth services librarian Kristin Maloney, who died in October 2016.
Library director Ebba Hierta was on hand to announce a tree dedication in Ms. Maloney’s honor on June 24.
Last, there will be a new health savings account offered to town employees.
