By MARK SARDELLA
WAKEFIELD — Lieutenant Craig Calabrese has been named Deputy Chief of the Wakefield Police Department.
It became official last night when Police Chief Rick Smith presented Lt. Calabrese to the Board of Selectmen as his choice for the position of Deputy Chief and the board voted unanimously to ratify the appointment.
Smith noted that Calabrese came on to the Police Department as a patrolman in 1999. He was promoted to Sergeant in 2005 and rose to the rank of lieutenant in 2009.
Smith also reminded the board that Calabrese attended the FBI National Academy. Smith added that Calabrese assists every year with the preparation of the Police Department budget. Smith said that Calabrese has the respect of the other members of the department and the community.
In response to a question from Selectman Brian Falvey, Smith reviewed that in 2009 the Town of Wakefield approved removing the position of Deputy Chief from Civil Service. Legislation approving the removal was passed by the Legislature in 2010. The purpose of removing the position of “Deputy Chief of Police” from Civil Service allows the Chief to formally identify the Executive Officer as the Deputy Chief. Currently, under Civil Service law, no agency can legitimately use the rank of Deputy Chief unless the municipality removes that title from the strictures of Civil Service.
By removing the position from Civil Service, it allows the Chief, under the direction of the Town Administrator, to appoint a member of the command staff to this position.
“What we hope to accomplish,” Smith explained, “is a command structure that flows proportionally from the Chief to the Deputy, then to the Lieutenants, Sergeants and Patrol Officers by not adding any positions. This will legitimize the span of control for the Department and reduces the flattening out of the current chain of command. The position of Deputy Chief will allow the Chief of Police to commence building a management team to lead the Wakefield Police Department into the future.”
Smith added that the move also effectively removes Calabrese from the Superior Officers Union.
WPD’s first Deputy Chief was Lieutenant John MacKay, who retired several years ago. Smith explained that the decision was made not to fill that position until other personnel vacancies were filled and the department was settled.
Calabrese thanked Chief Smith and the board for the vote of confidence.
“The Town of Wakefield has given me everything,” said Calabrese, who graduated from Wakefield High School in 1991. “I don’t take that lightly.”
Members of the board and Town Administrator Stephen P. Maio congratulated Calabrese on his elevation to Deputy Chief.
Officer Kelley Tobyne to Receive MAWLE Award
Smith also informed the selectmen that the Massachusetts Association of Women in Law Enforcement (MAWLE) has notified Wakefield Police Officer Kelley Tobyne that she has been selected to receive the 2015 “Spirit of MAWLE Award in Community Service” at ceremonies to be held on June 18 at Hellenic College in Brookline.
Smith said that the award recognizes not only Tobyne’s work with the Police department as the Galvin School Resource Officer but also her civilian volunteer work with developmentally disabled adults at the Hogan Regional Center providing dog therapy with her dog, Mack.
At the same ceremony, Smith added, Jennifer Waczkowski, a clinician who works for the Wakefield Police Department’s Crisis Intervention Team, will receive a special recognition from MAWLE.
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In other business last night, the Board of Selectmen:
• Approved the 2015 contract for the Wakefield Farmers Market.
• Approved liquor licenses for Charlton Orchards, Aaronap Cellars and Downeast Cider to allow them to sell wine or cider at the Wakefield Farmers Market.
• Approved a proposal whereby the Recreation Department and WCAT will team up to bring “Movies on the Common” this summer on the evenings of July 2, Aug. 13 and Sept. 2.
