HOLYOKE — The Holyoke Police Department is set to have a new police chief next year.
On Wednesday, Mayor Alex Morse announced that Police Chief Manny Febo submitted his intent to retire on July 31 after just three years in the department’s top position. A Holyoke native, Febo has worked in the department for 25 years. He will be replaced by Police Capt. Dave Pratt, who has been with the department since 1993.
In a phone interview, Febo said that retiring was a personal decision, and that he wanted to see what opportunities present themselves in the future. But at the moment, he said he does not have any solid plans.
“I just felt like it’s time to move on,” he said. “When you know it’s time, it’s time.”
Febo, 50, has spent much of his adult life working at the department. He became a captain in 2013 and was sworn in as chief in 2018. He said he has enjoyed his career on the force.
“It was a bit unexpected because it’s his first three-year term,” Morse said on Wednesday. “I want to thank Chief Febo for his service to the city over the years.”
Morse noted that the first time he met Febo was when he was in middle school and Febo was his school resource officer.
Pratt, meanwhile, has been a supervisor since 1999 and a captain since 2011. He has been commander of operations, criminal investigations, budgets and grants, and led the Holyoke Public School’s school resource officer program. He has served as acting chief when Febo was absent.
“I think Dave Pratt is the right guy, I strongly recommended him to the mayor,” Febo said. “He’s been around longer than I have.”
Pratt could not be reached for comment on Wednesday.
Morse said that he chose Pratt because, in addition to his experience, he understands that policing and responding to crime is about working with partners in the community.
“I really appreciated his leadership around the time of citywide marches following the death of George Floyd,” Morse said.
Dusty Christensen can be reached at dchristensen@gazettenet.com.