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Date: 6/28/2022
CHICOPEE – Newly appointed Police Chief Patrick Major looks forward to implementing continual growth for Chicopee’s Police Department.
Mayor John Vieau announced the appointment of Major on April 15 after an extensive interview process. Major and former interim Deputy Chief Jeffery Gawron were the final candidates for the position.
For Major, serving in public safety always remained a goal. The chief enlisted in the military at 17 and followed into police work soon after his service.
“It was something I was always interested in. … When I got out [of the military], my brother got on the department here and I would listen to some of his stories. I found it highly interesting, which is what spurred me to join as well,” said Major in an interview with Reminder Publishing.
Since joining the department in 1992, Major served in a variety of positions. He traversed through roles in accident reconstruction, patrol, the underwater dive team and the detective bureau of investigation and narcotics. While Major noted that his days ranged from feeling “rewarding to challenging” considering the life-or-death circumstances of police work, he believes the various experiences prepared him for his new role.
“I’ve been fortunate. It seems like a lot for many people, but I consider it the background as to why I am here today,” said Major.
Major also detailed how becoming the commander of a tactical team opened his eyes to responsibilities of leadership.
“That’s kind of what opened my eyes to the world of leadership and all the nuances of not just being a member anymore, but being in charge and having to worry about liability, training and risk management. … That allowed me more opportunities to train and get more education in those areas,” said Major.
Major’s appointment as chief comes at a time of significant transformation for the Police Department. Due to a slew of retirements, the department is in the process of welcoming an infusion of new police officers from the police academy. Major expressed excitement in the department’s implementation of officers after coronavirus pandemic-based delays created a short-staffed police force.
So far in his experiences, Major shared that the youthful generation of new officers approach their jobs with an inquisitive mindset. “It’s a generation that is very open-minded and wants to understand the what and why of what we’re doing, which I admire in them,” said Major.
Major continued, “When I started, it was just sit back, don’t say anything and do what you’re told. … That wasn’t a very good way to learn, it was the way it was back in that time, but it’s not like that anymore. You get a more well-rounded officer out of the way we do things these days.”
The new chief is also advancing the department’s community relations efforts. Major shared the department recently hired a new public information officer and plans to expand various social media outlets. Additionally, Major noted the importance of officers connecting with the public on a day-to-day basis.
“Having the officers take the time to stop, get out of their cars and talk to people is the backbone of community policing and building trust,” said Major. Along with a C3 substation in Chicopee Center, Major said the department is also preparing for a community policing outlet in Willimansett in the future.
Looking ahead, Major expressed confidence with where the Police Department is going.
“Having that staffing level will allow us to open up more community policing down the road. We’ve gotten to a point now where the [retirements] of our officers is finally coming to end, so we’re able to build things back up again,” said Major.