AMHERST — A temporary police chief is expected to be appointed to oversee the Amherst Police Department when Police Chief Scott Livingstone retires late this month.
Town Manager Paul Bockelman said conversations are underway about how to proceed with a search for a permanent successor that will be led by Human Resources Director Melissa Loiodice-Walker. Livingstone is set to work his last day on May 27.
“We hope to have the position filled over the summer,” Bockelman said.
Under the current plan, Bockelman said an interim would be ready to serve when Livingstone, who has led the department for nearly 14 years and been a member of the force for 46 years, departs.
Livingstone succeeded Charles Scherpa in 2009 following a search in which both finalists were internal candidates. During the previous change in leadership, when Scherpa took the helm in 1999 from 26-year Police Chief Donald Maia, no search was done, with the appointment made by then Town Manager Barry Del Castilho.
Bockelman said the plan for the search this time will include significant community engagement.
The police chief search comes as the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Director Pamela Nolan Young is charged with establishing a Police Resident Oversight Board that will begin sometime after July 1.
Young created a draft timeline and money is available to hire a consultant who will assist in the creation of this new body that would handle complaints about and hold hearings on actions by police officers.
Bockelman told the Town Council at a meeting earlier this month that while similar oversight panels have been created, Amherst’s will come after the state adopted the Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission in 2020. The POST Commission is supposed to improve policing and enhance public confidence in law enforcement through mandatory certification, discipline and training.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at merzbach@gazettenet.com.