Outside firm to guide search for new police chief

By Steve Landwehr
STAFF WRITER

December 03, 2008 04:09 am

—

HAMILTON — Selectmen voted unanimously Monday night to get some professional help in the search for a replacement for retiring police Chief Walter Cullen.

BadgeQuest, a West Yarmouth-based consultant, was the winning bidder, though not the lowest. State bidding laws usually dictate the lowest offer must be accepted, but Town Administrator Candace Wheeler told selectmen in this case they could also consider which firm best meets their needs.

Chairman Dick Low, in particular, was impressed by the BadgeQuest pledge to thoroughly assess the community and the Police Department before advertising the job.

The only problem is there's no money to pay for the work at this point, though board members seemed to feel it can be found somewhere.

At $15,000, BadgeQuest's bid is about midway between the highest and lowest bidders.

It isn't clear from where the money for the contract with BadgeQuest will come, though Finance Committee Chairman Arthur Oberheim indicated it would probably be taken from the Reserve Fund.

Fire Chief Phil Stevens questioned spending that much money "when we're trying to save nickels and dimes and when you have good candidates in-house."

Low replied current officers would be considered, but he felt it was the board's duty to "not cut corners" on something as important as a police chief.

Former Selectman and personnel board member Bob Bullivant was asked whether he thought it a good idea to hire an outside firm to conduct a search.

"What you would buy for the price is objectivity," he said. "That's very important in this case — in any case."

Events over the past summer painted a picture of a station house divided. Allegations surfaced that a faction of officers on the force has been set on getting rid of Cullen.

Officer Michael Marchand, who is on paid administrative leave and has sued the town, alleges that, in March 2007, he had a meeting with Patrolman Brian Shaw and Sgt. Paul Grant, and Shaw told them of a plot by Sgt. Don Dupray and officers Arthur Hatfield and Karen Wallace to depose Cullen.