EASTHAMPTON — Following Police Chief Robert Alberti’s announced retirement due to health reasons on July 31, the city now is preparing its search process to identify a new candidate.
Alberti served in law enforcement for 24 years, with most of those years in Easthampton and became chief in 2016. Currently, Dennis Scribner is serving as interim chief for the department.
In a statement release from the mayor’s office, the decision by Alberti was met with deep respect.
“He has been an invaluable resource to Easthampton and public safety, and we wish him all the best in his future endeavors,” the statement read.
Easthampton Mayor Nicole LaChapelle told Reminder Publishing this is a big transition for the community as Alberti was a community leader through and through.
“He is a resident and deeply involved in his community so him stepping away to take care of himself is a decision supported by the community but it’s also a void. It’s a big change and as a result of that, we are being really careful and thoughtful around the search and what it will look like for the next police chief,” LaChapelle said.
LaChapelle said currently the city is researching internally and looking at what other communities have done when putting together their police chief searches, as well as connecting with department heads across the city for input on what they would like to see in a new chief.
LaChapelle added she believes a search committee should be put together and ready for the next steps in the identification of candidates by the fall. She added the goal is for the process to be very community involved.
“If anything else I recognize the importance of the work Chief Alberti has done to get our department where it is today, and not wanting to go back but also the very specific and unique stakes the chief of police has in the overall security, well being and comfort of our city,” LaChapelle said. “We want a framework where there are different opportunities and different ways during parts of the search to define what the characteristics people want to see in our police chief and to interact with those who will apply for the job.”
She added she hopes by mid-October they have started the public input engagement and have their search committee set to tackle the search. She said public surveys and engagement opportunities will be crucial to getting residents input in the search.
LaChapelle said she hopes the next chief can be an extension of continuity based on the great work and culture Alberti had established in his tenure as chief. She added not only does she hope someone can take the reins, but that they can also lead Easthampton and its progress as a department into the future.
“[We’re] looking for continuity, extension and expansion of community policing, talking and looking at more co-responder support, looking at different ways the police can interact and response to different calls. Chief Alberti modernized the Easthampton Police Department,” LaChapelle said. “We want to see and welcome a leader into that position that has a learning mindset and is going to evolve with the community, but also understand that there are bread and butter public safety issues that the city of Easthampton and its residents not only want but deserve that confidence and security.”
