SHUTESBURY — The town’s police chief will be departing in early March after two and half years on the job.
Dan Fernandes told the Select Board in January that he is resigning from the position effective March 6. He had been the department’s officer in charge for two months in 2018 before town officials hired him as police chief.
“Everything’s been good here,” said Fernandes, reached at his office Friday. “But I’m exploring options outside of police work.”
Fernandes said one option, after about 10 years in law enforcement in both full- and part-time roles, is continuing to operate his own farm in Wilbraham.
The board issued a statement to the community that it reluctantly accepted the resignation, praising Fernandes for engaging the public, including through a virtual question-and-answer session last summer, and being willing to hold a similar session in the coming weeks on the department’s use of force and traffic stop practices.
“His goals for the department have focused on serving the town under the principles of community policing,” the board wrote. “This goal guided his leadership of the department.”
Fernandes also established a body camera policy and used a grant to purchase them, and revitalized patrols on Lake Wyola.
That letter to residents also notes that Fernandes donated a truckload of pumpkins from his farm to the library for the Halloween celebration in Shutesbury center in 2019.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
