There's a new sheriff in town: Amherst taps next police chief

By Scott Merzbach
Staff Writer

Published on August 28, 2009

When Scott Livingstone was about to graduate from Granby High School in 1977, his class adviser and English teacher suggested that he could become a community service officer at the Amherst Police Department, where her husband was already working as a patrol officer. Now, 32 years later, Livingstone is succeeding Kathy Scherpa's spouse as the new police chief in Amherst.

"I came here to Amherst as a community service officer and liked it a lot," Livingstone said.

Livingstone, 50, a police captain for the last 18 months, was named successor to retired Police Chief Charles Scherpa on Aug. 20 by Town Manager Larry Shaffer, three days after receiving a unanimous recommendation from a search panel. He is expected to be sworn in to his new position, which will pay him $105,000, on Sept. 14.

"I'm pleasantly surprised and am looking forward to this," Livingstone said. "It's a very exciting time for me and my family."

Shaffer said the town was blessed with two experienced finalists in Livingstone and Capt. Michael Kent, who has been serving as the interim police chief since June.

"I am confident that Capt. Livingstone has the vision needed to lead the men and women of the respected and talented Amherst Police Department," Shaffer said.

Shaffer added that he was delighted to appoint Livingstone because he has clear ideas of how the department can remain successful in its mission to serve the community during a difficult budget era. At the second interviews that took place Aug. 17, Livingstone's responses for carrying the department through unsettled waters impressed members of the search committee, Shaffer said.

"At the second interview, Capt. Livingstone was able to demonstrate a strong understanding and capacity for dealing with an era of challenges," Shaffer said.

Kent said he is disappointed not to get the job, but points out that he has known Livingstone since each was a child growing up in Granby.

"No doubt he'll do a tremendous job," Kent said. "I will try to be the best second in command I can be."

Livingstone noted that both he and Kent had been pulling for each other during the interview process.

Livingstone moved to Granby when he was in fourth grade, after growing up on and near several Navy shipyards where his father was stationed. He was hired as a police officer four years after coming to the department, taking the position that opened upon the retirement of Officer Fred Shepard.

Livingstone was promoted to sergeant in 1988, and joined the detective bureau in 2000. Later in 2000, he was promoted to lieutenant, where he was in command of the night shift, before becoming captain of operations in February 2008.

He is a trained instructor in crowd management and special operations and is the department's instructor in Breathalyzer operation, standardized field sobriety tests and detecting drunken drivers. He is also a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's National Academy.

Livingstone earned an associate's degree in criminal justice from Springfield Technical Community College, and graduated with honors in 2006 from Western New England College, where he obtained his bachelor's degree in law enforcement.

Livingstone is married to Rhys Livingstone and has two daughters.

Plans as chief

Livingstone complimented both Charles Scherpa and former Chief Donald Maia, who hired him, for being great teachers and expects that the transition will be smooth for the department. Following in their footsteps, and in those of their predecessor, Frank Hart, Livingstone is the fourth police chief to be promoted from within.

In his new role, he wants to stress the importance of building relationships with the University of Massachusetts police and state police, possibly through some joint patrols and traffic initiatives.

"It would be my desire to have a more open relationship with them," Livingstone said. "It absolutely will be a direction we'll go in."

Shaffer said this is important for the town. "He wants to work collaboratively with both entities to address our needs," Shaffer said.

Community policing is at the core of Livingstone's ideas. He is in the process of redesigning districts so that specific officers will spend more time in certain parts of town. This idea of patrol redistricting, he said, is a way to have officers take ownership of certain areas and then get better cooperation from those living there because of their familiarity with the officers.

Shaffer said Livingstone understands how to analyze data related to community policing and apply this information to how resources are used and requested.

When he became a captain, Livingstone spoke about the need to promote policing that uses a more problem-oriented approach to dealing with issues affecting Amherst. This meant targeting areas such as Sunset and Lincoln avenues, where the bulk of problems involving college students occur, while also maintaining an emphasis on community policing.

To be effective in the problem-oriented approach, which attempts to deal with the root cause of crime by working with those residents affected, the department needs to continue to have sufficient resources and manpower.

This, Livingstone said, will be compromised this fall by the loss of three officers because of insufficient town funding.

As chief, Livingstone said he understands the department will have to work harder and implement new ideas.

"We're going to have to be creative. We can't afford to cut any more bodies," Livingstone said.

Most of his non-police time is consumed by family commitments, he said, but he has continued playing in a men's golf league in Greenfield on Tuesday nights.

"It's the one guaranteed night a week I can go and chill out," said Livingstone, who played soccer, baseball and wrestling when in high school.

He also referees soccer in the Connecticut Valley Soccer Officials League and expects that he will be doing some soccer coaching at some point.

The near future

Shaffer thanked the search committee for its excellent work. The committee included Select Board member Gerry Weiss, residents Roberto Marquez and Patricia Romney, Human Resources Director Eunice Torres, Human Rights Commission chairman Reynolds Winslow, Wellesley Police Chief Terrence Cunningham, UMass Police Chief Johnny Whitehead and Bruce Carroll, an organizational consultant for state police.

Shaffer said he also wanted to acknowledge Kent's service as interim chief, a role he will stay in until Livingstone takes the reins of the department.

Kent, a captain since 2000, is expected to remain as captain in charge of administrative services, a position that includes overseeing the training of officers, department accreditation, tracking racial profiling, seeking grants and working with the local TRIAD and SALT councils. Kent also is the liaison to the University of Massachusetts, and Amherst and Hampshire colleges, where he has worked on programs aimed at combatting underage drinking.

Livingstone said a coming staff meeting will include discussion of getting a new captain, someone who will likely be promoted from within, as soon as possible.