Acting Edgartown Police Chief John M. (Jack) Collins, a labor lawyer and law enforcement specialist, hired to serve in the interim period following the retirement of Chief Tony Bettencourt and provide a department evaluation, recommended to selectmen Monday that they name Dave Rossi, a 25-year veteran of the department, the new police chief.
Mr. Collins also recommended a “two-person approach” to the department’s leadership, and the appointment of Detective Sergeant Chris Dolby to the position of lieutenant, second in command.
“Between them, they have what it takes to provide the leadership the department needs, and they can feed off of each other’s strengths,” Mr. Collins said in a detailed 89-page report, titled, “A Blueprint for Excellence: An Evaluation of and Vision for the Edgartown Police Department.”
Mr. Collins said Mr. Rossi and Mr. Dolby would make the department one in which “competence, integrity, initiative, good work, and dedication are acknowledged.”
He said, “I have become convinced that these two make a terrific team and together posses the strengths, dedication, vision and capabilities needed to lead the Edgartown Police Department in the coming years.”
Selectmen are expected to act on the recommendations when they meet Monday.
As part of the selection process, Mr. Collins asked members of the department to name the traits that qualified both men for leadership posts.
His fellow officers described Mr. Rossi, who holds a master’s in criminal justice, as someone deeply involved in the community with a “fair and objective attitude,” who is “very reliable.” One officer said, “Someone I can respect and follow, even if I do not agree with everything he says.”
Chris Dolby, 42, was described as “the department’s most energetic and productive member, a terrific detective and supervisor, ‘a cop’s cop,’ and ‘someone we can all trust and talk to.’ One officer said, ‘Should be chief now but probably wants to wait a few years.’”
Flattered and privileged
On Tuesday, both men expressed appreciation for the strong show of support and confidence in their leadership abilities and the report’s overall positive assessment of the Edgartown Police Department.
In a telephone conversation Tuesday, Officer Rossi said Mr. Collins’ comments in support of his appointment were very flattering and very positive. “I am honored that I was recommended,” Mr. Rossi said, “and that he had the faith in me, and that my colleagues, the people I work with, gave the same endorsement. That’s a great way to start off.”
Mr. Rossi, a resident of Edgartown, began his police career in Tisbury. The 55-year-old has been an Edgartown police officer for the past 25 years. If Mr. Rossi is appointed, he would be the second member of his family to head an Island police department. His brother Dan Rossi is West Tisbury Police Chief.
As he has risen through the ranks, Detective Sergeant Chris Dolby has earned a reputation as a dogged officer on the front lines of police work in his hometown. Mr. Dolby comes from a family with a tradition of public and community service. His mother, Pam Dolby, is Edgartown town administrator. His grandfather, Fred “Ted” Morgan, was a highly respected selectman for 30 years and the driving force behind the affordable housing rental complex that bears his name, Morgan Woods.
Mr. Dolby told The Times he was flattered by the comments in the report. “I plan on working hard to maintain that level of commitment to the police department and town of Edgartown,” Mr. Dolby said. “If they [the selectmen] go with those recommendations, I very much look forward to the opportunity, and I continue to think that it is a privilege to be a police officer in the town of Edgartown.”
Not Ferguson
Mr. Collins’ report describes a department that now employs 18 full-time officers and has an operating budget of just over $2.9 million. Mr. Collins said he met with each member of the department, often riding along on patrol. His review, he said, comes “at a crucial time for policing across this country.”
Mr. Collins noted the national conversation over the use of police force, particularly with respect to race, and the recent investigation by the Department of Justice (DOJ) of the Ferguson, Mo., police force that led to a series of recommendations by the DOJ and a task force President Obama convened on best practices for policing in the 21st century.
Mr. Collins said that while “the Edgartown Police department is no Ferguson,” the task force report and the DOJ report can serve as “a measuring stick against which all police departments can gauge themselves in any number of areas.”
The Collins report highlights those points, and those areas where the department excels and those areas where it could use some improvement and additional training. It also includes specific recommendations, many of which are related to training and field supervision. In particular, the report calls for more leadership training at the sergeant level.
Mr. Collins said the department needs three new sergeants as soon as the training can be completed. He also recommends officers be assigned to various specialty positions that include elder affairs, crime prevention, liquor enforcement, and domestic violence/sexual assault.
We can do better
Mr. Rossi said the report prepared by Mr. Collins provided a comprehensive assessment of the department. “We scored well, we got a good grade,” Mr. Rossi said. “It gives me the confidence that what we’ve been doing and what we will continue to do is good on a nationwide basis. We treat people good, we treat people with respect — that’s an important issue — and we do a lot of community outreach with our community, we know our community and engage with them on a regular basis.”
Mr. Rossi said the report cited good work from the detectives and the department as a whole when measured against national standards.
“I’m happy with the report,” he said. “He went through the Edgartown police and the things that we do, and we’re not broken, we don’t need to be fixed, but we can do better, and there are some things we will try to do better.”
As an example he cited accreditation procedures and updating departmental policies and procedures.
Selectman Art Smadbeck told The Times Mr. Collins prepared an excellent and comprehensive report. Mr. Smadbeck said he has known Mr. Rossi for 25 years, and described him as a natural leader who inspires confidence.
“I think all of the recommendations that Mr. Collins has made are worthy of consideration and possible implementation,” Mr. Smadbeck said. “I look forward to working with the new chief to be helpful in any way and implement any of the recommendations that he thinks are priorities.”
Mr. Smadbeck said he is proud of the Edgartown Police department, “and all of the men and women who are members and participated in this process, and helped bring it to such a successful conclusion.”
