By Chris Cassidy
SALEM — Former police Chief Robert St. Pierre has a new title, albeit a temporary one.
The city's newly retired top cop has been named the "Local Hero" of the annual Haunted Happenings Parade, which is set for Thursday.
"It seems to be an easy choice because of his record of service and for what he brings to Salem," said Rinus Oosthoek, executive director of the Salem Chamber of Commerce, which is organizing the parade. "He set a benchmark for what a police chief should be."
St. Pierre will march with Mayor Kim Driscoll, the grand marshal of the parade.
This is the first year the parade has named a local hero, Oosthoek said, an idea that came from Dave McKillop, the co-owner of Rockafellas. The chamber will donate $250 in St. Pierre's name to the charity of his choice, the Salem Boys & Girls Club.
Oosthoek said the chamber received between 25 and 30 nominations.
"We'll do it again next year because it's a good tradition," he said.
Salem's annual Halloween parade gets under way at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, one of the earliest start dates in the parade's history.
The theme this year is the movie "A Night at the Museum."
Between 3,000 and 4,000 students, band members, parents and performers march in the parade each year, Oosthoek said. Some 10,000 watch the spectacle wind through the downtown.
It will step off from Shetland Park, head toward Derby Street, wrap around the downtown and end by Salem Common.
Streets in the area will close between 5:30 and 6 p.m., Oosthoek said.
Oosthoek recommended Derby Street or the corner of Washington and Essex streets as good vantage points and warned that Front Street will be crowded.
"It's really a family event," Oosthoek said. "Anybody who hasn't seen it before, it's really a lot of fun."
