HAMPDEN — The Hampden Selectboard has chosen East Longmeadow Police Detective Sgt. Daniel Bruno to be the town’s new police chief.
With the retirement of Chief Scott Trombley, the Selectboard hired search firm Public Safety Consultants to narrow a field of 12 applicants to four candidates.
After one candidate withdrew from consideration, the remaining three — Bruno, Hampden Police Sgt. Thomas Yvon and Longmeadow Capt. Carl Mazzaferro — spent about 30 minutes each answering questions from the Hampden Selectboard.
During the Oct. 2 interviews, all three candidates spoke about being drawn to policing their whole lives and their focus of the service portion of the police motto “protect and serve.” Yvon and Mazzaferro expressed an opinion of serving at the pleasure of the Selectboard, following their lead. Bruno described his vision of working with the Selectboard as part of a team of town leadership. Mazzaferro presented a 90-day plan to review the department for strengths and weaknesses and to look for “efficiencies” that could be cut. Yvon spoke about fully staffing the department, streamlining where possible and addressing the vehicle fleet. Bruno said he wanted to focus on continuity and building trust.
On Oct. 6, when the board met to vote on the appointment, Flynn said the members were in an “enviable position” with three good candidates. The chief would need to be “someone who’s really invested in our community. Someone who can be thought of as part of the community.” While each would make a good police chief, he posed the question, who would be “a good chief for the town of Hampden?”
Davenport proposed they hire Mazzaferro, who used to be an officer in Hampden. Davenport said Mazzaferro was “well-rounded.” He acknowledged Mazzaferro’s plan for the department was “overly ambitious,” but said, “It’s best to move forward with high expectations and high goals.”
However, Vanderleeden felt Bruno, a Hampden resident, was the best choice for the town. In the interview, Bruno spoke about moving to Hampden because he liked the small-town feel.
Flynn agreed. Davenport acquiesced, saying it was important that the new chief has the universal support of the Selectboard. The vote was 3-0 in favor of Bruno, who must pass physical and psychological exams before being hired.
