February 17, 2021 by Carol Britton Meyer (photos courtesy of HPD)
Effective last night, Interim Police Chief David P. Jones -- a longtime Hingham resident who went through the Hingham Public Schools -- became the permanent chief on a unanimous vote by the selectmen.
Jones, who was interviewed by the board three weeks ago following "very good" to "excellent" recommendations from a panel of three South Shore police chiefs who interviewed him as a starting point, said he has aspired to become chief since he first joined the force a number of years ago.
The new chief said he was "humbled by the confidence and trust the board showed in appointing me to this position. I look forward to serving this vibrant community and our dedicated team of Hingham police officers and staff and look forward to meaningful conversations with members of the community and ensuring that residents of all walks of life feel safe in our town."
Jones went on to praise the "tireless dedication and commitment" exhibited by members of the HPD.
Jones was the sole candidate for the police chief opening resulting from former Chief Glenn Olsson's retirement last summer. Citizens were invited to submit questions for the board's interview with Jones.
He has served in a number of capacities with the Hingham Police Department over the past 20 years -- patrolman, sergeant, lieutenant, and deputy chief -- in addition to interim chief for the past six months.
"The Hingham Police officers believe in Dave and are looking forward to working with him as chief for a long time to come," Town Administrator Tom Mayo said. "He will provide solid leadership for the foreseeable future."
Mayo said it's not unusual for a town the size of Hingham to conduct an internal police chief search first before going outside the force when qualified candidates are available.
If the internal search had not resulted in the hiring of a police chief, the town would have sought other candidates from outside the Hingham Police Department, according to Mayo.
Selectmen Chair Mary Power and fellow Selectmen Joseph Fisher and William Ramsey spoke of Jones' diligence, compassion, willingness to learn and grow, strong leadership and budget administration skills, and his dedication to the community as some of his strengths.
In looking back to the Hingham police chiefs he grew up with or has known known over the years, Ramsey said they all share the common denominators of "caring deeply for our [town and its residents]" and becoming part of the fabric of the community. "I'm very confident that Dave will continue that legacy."
Jones and Ramsey grew up, and went to school, together. "I remember Dave as being one of the smartest guys in the class," Ramsey recalled. "We were both Eagle Scouts."
Power, in looking toward the future, said "important work lies ahead of [the board and HPD]. We need to ensure that the men and women in uniform have the tools and facilities to do their jobs and to examine [HPD's] practices and policies to make sure they conform to our community policing [vision]. I think David Jones is the right person to lead the HPD."