Police chief gets new contract, raise

Date: 7/11/2014

HOLYOKE – Mayor Alex Morse announced on July 3 he has extended the contract for  Police Chief James Neiswanger’s contract for three additional years.
   
The new contract also comes with a new paycheck. Neiswanger received a five percent increase with is annual salary going from $136,419 to  $143,000.
   
Morse’s Chief of Staff Rory Casey added the Morse added the provision of an annual performance review to Neiswanger’s contract  as a “way to justify raises in the future.”
   
Neiswanger has been police chief since 2011.
   
Morse said, “It has been an honor and a privilege to work with Chief Neiswanger, and I couldn’t be happier to have him lead our police force for years to come. He has consistently displayed a level of professionalism that has reflected well on our whole community. Most importantly, his innovative and compassionate approach to policing has improved the quality of life for all of Holyoke’s residents – keeping us all safer, while also reinforcing our city’s strong sense of community.”
   
Neiswanger has brought back community policing to Holyoke and instituted the Mobile Community Policing unit, which allows the  department to bring the community policing model to all of the city’s neighborhoods.
   
Neiswanger has begun Crisis Intervention Training for off it the officers and has expanded its K-9 unit with three new dogs.
   
“Serving as Holyoke’s chief of police these past three years has been a true honor. I am grateful to the mayor for his help and collaboration in implementing our strategies, and to the City Council for their support. Most importantly, I am grateful for the brave men and women I have the privilege to lead every day – the members of Holyoke's Police Department, who work hard every day keeping our citizens safe. I couldn’t ask for a better group of professional and dedicated officers to work with,” Neiswanger said.