Summers are a rush for leaders in law enforcement on the Island. But come winter there is still much to do, as police chiefs tell the Gazette in their monthly gathering for discussion about issues that cross town lines.
Oak Bluffs Police Chief Erik G. Blake was sworn in Wednesday, Jan. 9 as the president of the Southeastern Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association.
The organization consists of police chiefs and police excecutives from 96 cities and towns in southeastern Massachusetts.
Chief Blake previously held the position of first vice president. He has been a member of the organization since becoming chief of the Oak Bluffs Police Department.
There was no crime on Gosnold Wednesday, a day much like any other. The only difference, this time it’s official.
“No incidents whatsoever,” announced the town’s first ever police chief, George Isabel. “There is nothing to report. The one problem was the rain, but there was no police action on that.”
Some might imagine it an unwanted burden on the police force of a rural community to have the First Family and its legion of attendants descend on your town at the height of summer, but West Tisbury police chief Beth Toomey couldn’t be happier about the President coming Sunday.
“I’m actually looking forward to this,” she said. “It’s always an honor to have the President visit. I’m looking forward to doing what we’re supposed to do and getting it done.”
Dan Rossi was appointed as the new West Tisbury police chief on Wednesday night after a vote by West Tisbury selectmen Cynthia Mitchell and Richard Knabel. After the announcement, Mr. Rossi wiped his brow and hugged the selectmen to a round of applause. It had been a long weekend of interviews and public speaking, and Mr. Rossi was eager to get back to the work of leading the police department, as he has done as interim chief since Beth Toomey’s retirement in April.
For over a decade, Antone (Tony) Bettencourt, the new police chief of Edgartown, served as the department’s special event coordinator, which meant organizing police response to large community events during the summer, including visits by President Clinton, the annual fireworks display and the Fourth of July parade.
Tisbury police chief Daniel Hanavan is bracing for the thousands of cars and visitors that will disembark daily from ferries into Vineyard Haven streets this summer. Edgartown police chief Antone Bettencourt is taking special note of the rise of underage alcohol purchases, while his Oak Bluffs counterpart, Erik Blake, is getting ready for summer bar closings in his town full of bustling night spots.
