Board of Selectmen Intends to Rescind Police Chief Appointment

Police Chief Dean Isabella's employment with the town of Seekonk appears to be over. Isabella was suspended from his job by Town Administrator Shawn Cadime on January 6.

In a statement issued Tuesday, Cadime said the following:

“Law enforcement agencies across the country are facing a growing number of challenges; including the struggle to recruit, retain, and restructure. As the Town continues to navigate these challenges and progress our strategic plan for the organization, the Board of Selectmen and I feel that the department needs a directional shift. The Police department requires a leader who understands the community, the organization, and most importantly the brand that our men and women in the Seekonk Police Department have worked so hard to promote."

"As employment contracts reach their expiration, the Board of Selectmen are often faced with the difficult decision of pursuing alternate opportunities for the Town and employees. These decisions are never dealt with lightly and require a great deal of scrutiny. While it is never the intention to shorten an employment contract, high level positions within the Town pose their own challenges which require any separation to be done respectfully and quickly. "

"The Board of Selectmen will be voting to rescind the appointment of Chief Isabella. We are deeply grateful for Chief Isabella’s service over the last two years and wish him well in his future endeavors," Cadime wrote.

Isabella told the Reporter that under his leadership, the department has either "met or exceeded" the standards used to determine a successful police department.

 "We have reduced crime every year for the last two years," Isabella noted. "As far as professionalism is concerned, we have had only one civilian complaint lodged. I think that's a testament to the professionalism of the officers involved but also a testament to the command staff and the standard by which they hold those officers."

Isabella also explained that the department's policies and procedures had been brought up accreditation standards and are "well on our way to accreditation."

The department has had a "robust" community engagement with residents, Isabella added.

 "I hope that continues in the future. I think that's a very important part of the future of any law enforcement agency. My hope would be that continues with the next Chief of Police."

Isabella was appointed by the Board of Selectmen in November 2020.  He signed a three year contract with the town.

Isabella previously worked for the Department of Children, Youth, and Families in Rhode Island as assistant director of Child Services, overseeing the Child Protective Services unit that investigates child abuse. Isabella had been a member of the Providence Police Department since 1987 and retired as a captain in 2019.