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Date: 4/19/2022
CHICOPEE – After former Police Chief William Jebb retired in March 2021, the Chicopee Police Department operated over the past year under interim leadership. The department now moves forward under the guidance of former Captain Patrick Major, who was announced as Chief of the Chicopee Police Department during an April 15 ceremony.
Since 1992, Major worked as a member of the city’s Police Department, working his way up to become sergeant, lieutenant, captain and senior officer of the detective bureau. Major also served in the United States military and graduated with a degree in Criminal Justice from Quincy College.
The Ceremony
Mayor John Vieau welcomed the Chicopee Police Department, members of the School Committee, members of the City Council and other elected officials to witness the announcement at the City Hall auditorium.
Vieau expressed that the lengthy process finding the Police Department’s new leadership was “rigorous for the candidates and community alike” as Major and Interim Police Chief Jeffery Gawron represented the final candidates.
“Both of our candidates are intelligent, hardworking and loyal captains of the Chicopee Police Department, and it fills me with great pride to know that our Police Department produced both of these gentlemen for a competitive selection process,” said Vieau.
The mayor also took time to recognize Jebb’s leadership of the department. “He was responsible for some of the biggest progressive efforts the Police Department and this city has ever seen. As chief, he elevated the Police Department to what we consider an example of Western Mass.,” said Vieau.
After Human Resources Director Paul Winspear highlighted the city’s “structured, three-phase weighted process” for assessment, Hampden County Sheriff Nick Cocchi said the “bulletproof process” is something he will utilize in the future.
“We are going to look to adopt your process, because it was a very fair and equitable process,” said Cocchi, who stressed that “police evolution” will continue to be stressed by police departments across the county.
Once Vieau revealed Major’s selection, the former captain reflected on his new position. “Mayor Vieau, knowing that public safety is a primary focus of your administration, I sincerely appreciate your confidence and faith in me to hold the position of chief of police. I promise to serve with honor and dignity,” said Major.
Major took time to recognize his peers, family, friends and his wife, Tracey, for their continued support. “I may be the chief of police, but I’ll always be your Patty. Thank you for your true devotion to me and being my everything,” said Major in thanking Tracey.
The new police chief also stressed that he will work diligently on behalf of Chicopee residents.
“To the citizens of this fine city, my loyalty is to you. I truly look forward to providing professional, respectful and dedicated Police Department to serve your needs in public safety, as well as proving to you that the police officers are a part of this community,” said Major, who considers the Chicopee Police Department “one of the finest in the state.”
The Interview Process
Vieau shared that the city originally initiated their search for a police chief in Fall 2021. The process halted in December 2021 when a candidate resigned from the job search. After an FBI review process, it was discovered that Superintendent Lynn Clark allegedly sent numerous text messages from anonymous numbers in an effort to coerce the candidate to resign. Clark allegedly lied to the FBI about her involvement, which led to her arrest on April 6.
The temporary pause led to Vieau and his team restarting the job search, which required candidates to resubmit their applications for the position. Three candidates underwent the initial civil service record review. Two Chicopee police officers, Gawron and Major, chose to remain in the running as the interview process began. Vieau stressed that restarting the search was the best way to create a fair process.
“We feel that everyone had an equal opportunity…I really thought this process was transparent, fair and really one of the best process this city has seen,” said Vieau in an interview with Reminder Publishing.
To ensure a balanced selection, Winspear shared the selection team implemented a hybrid weighted system, which reviews a series of factors through “scientific development” that combined for a final score. For the final assessment, 30 percent of the score derived from the candidates’ civil service records, 30 percent from case studies assigned to the candidates and 40 percent from the candidates panel interview.
Vieau and Winspear enlisted the aid of assessment center PSC (Public Safety Consultants) to review the candidates’ civil service records in Fall 2021. Ward 3 City Councilor Delmarina Lopez and Karen Hansmann assisted with the assessment process, according to Winsepar. The mayor’s review team for the case studies and panel interviews included Winspear, Cocchi, Chief of Staff Mike Pise, Acting Superintendent Alvin Morton and former Human Resources Director Richard Merchant.
The candidates completed case studies that represented relevant modern law enforcement issues, according to Winspear. Final interviews for the position took place on April 8, as the interview panel assessed the candidate’s criminal justice science and legal application, department management and leadership, operational compliance and capital management, public relations and community policing and the candidates self-assessments.
“Both candidates did an exceptional job, they had to put in the work…It was a gentlemen’s race by two men who hold each other in high regard,” said Vieau.