GRANBY — Town officials have tapped Lt. Kevin O’Grady to lead the department on an interim basis following the retirement of former Police Chief Alan Wishart on July 1.
Wishart announced on his last official day of duty that the Granby Select Board had chosen O’Grady to become the department’s interim chief of police as town officials continue to review applications for a full-time police chief. O’Grady, a member of the department since 1998, said he is one of the applicants for the police chief role.
O’Grady was sworn in as interim chief by town officials on Thursday. Wishart had originally planned to retire in May, but was granted a two-month extension to allow more time to find his successor.
“He is an incredibly hard worker, he is smart, he is trustworthy, and he cares about doing the right thing,” Wishart said of O’Grady. Wishart joined the police department in 1997 and was promoted to sergeant four years later. In 2010, the Select Board promoted him to police chief following the retirement of former police chief Louis Barry.
“He’s perfect for the police department, and he has the backing of people who work with him, glowing references from me, my predecessor, the district attorney,” Wishart added. “He’s earned it.”
The Select Board’s screening committee is reviewing applications for the town’s next chief of police and is preparing recommendations for public interviews with finalists for the job.
Town Administrator Christopher Martin said of Wishart’s retirement, “I wish him well, it’s been a pleasure working with him, we’ve had a good working relationship, and I wish him well in retirement — he’s earned it.”
Wishart, 49, of Granby, said he’s been “incredibly lucky to work with such an awesome group of caring people who want to do the right thing.” He praised Barry as an “incredible mentor” from his earliest days at the department, and even before joining the department. As a student at Holyoke Community College, Wishart’s first criminal justice course was taught by Barry.
“I’ve admired him from the beginning,” Wishart said. “He’s been an incredible mentor, chief, and, ultimately, a friend who really piqued my interest in the profession.”
Over the course of his 24 years at the Granby Police Department, Wishart said he’s seen a shift towards more full-time police officers on the force. When he first joined the department, Wishart said there were about 15 part-time officers. Now the department has 11 full-time officers and five part-time officers, plus four dispatchers.
In 2010, the town’s public safety complex was completed, and around the same time, Wishart was promoted to police chief.
He recalled a large blizzard in October 2011 that took power out for six to eight days, and said the public safety complex “helped take care of people.”
Wishart said he is looking to take time off during the summer before finding his next challenge.
As for O’Grady being named interim chief, he’s already been taking on many of those responsibilities over the course of the past several years, and more so in the past six months, Wishart said.
“There is nobody better suited, better trained, and ready to take on the position,” Wishart said.
O’Grady began his career in law enforcement with the Granby Police Department in 1998 as a part-time officer. He previously served two years as an auxiliary officer before taking a paid position. He joined the force full-time in 2003, was promoted to sergeant in 2008, and then promoted to lieutenant in 2017. He also holds a master’s degree in criminal justice from Westfield State University.
“I’ve done everything from running investigations to being in charge of the detectives, and being a court officer,” O’Grady said. “I’ve worked side-by-side with Wishart for the last several years running the administrative part.”
One of O’Grady’s priorities as interim chief is ensuring all the department’s part-time officers are recertified under the state’s new police reform bill, signed by Gov. Baker in December.
The governor has described the bill as creating a mandatory certification process for police officers for the first time in Massachusetts, as well as increasing accountability and transparency in law enforcement.
Over the next two years, three part-time officers will receive 200 hours of training through the newly created Massachusetts Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission, which consists of 80 hours of criminal and constitutional law, 40 hours of emergency vehicle training, 40 hours of defense tactics, and 40 hours of firearms training, according to O’Grady.
“It is all part of the police reform bill,” recently inked into law, O’Grady said. “Part-time officers will have to get this training to maintain their certification.”
As for leading the department, O’Grady said, “I’m going to run the department how it has always been run and I hope to get the full-time chief position.”
Luis Fieldman can be reached at lfieldman@gazettenet.com.
