By Brandon Butler
MediaNews Staff
FITCHBURG -- City councilors greeted Robert DeMoura with a standing ovation after confirming him as the city's next police chief last night in an 11-1 vote at City Hall.
DeMoura, deputy superintendent of the Lowell Police Department, spent about a half-hour fielding questions from councilors about his priorities as chief before the eight-month search process came to a close.
"It feels very good," DeMoura said after he was officially confirmed as chief. "I'm excited (the search process) is over with."
Mayor Lisa Wong applauded the council's actions.
"I think this is wonderful," she said. "I'm very pleased with the decision, and I'm pleased to move forward with DeMoura as our police chief."
DeMoura said he will focus on process, leadership and accountability when he starts on April 14.
"(The Fitchburg Police Department has) been doing the right thing for years," he told the council last night.
Councilor David Clark asked DeMoura what his first priority would be as chief, and DeMoura said it would be dealing with the budget issues and meeting the officers and command staff in the department.
"I want to identify what the needs of the organization are, drive around with the officers, feel what they feel," he said.
In response to a question about the civilian dispatchers being laid off last year and having officers replace them, DeMoura said he would support creating a regional communications center for the police and other city departments.
"Regionalization absolutely needs to occur," he said.
He talked about a first-of-its kind diversion program in Hudson, N.H., for young offenders that he wants to consider bringing to Fitchburg. He also spoke about a substance-abuse program he started in 1997 in Lowell. He wants to set up an e-mail tip system in Fitchburg and said he wants to look into grants for community-policing initiatives.
Councilor Joel Kaddy cast the lone dissenting vote against DeMoura's appointment. After the meeting, he said he wanted Fitchburg Lt. Paul Bozicas, the other finalist for the position and a 25-year veteran of the department, to be appointed chief.
"I was for the local guy," Kaddy said. "Not to take anything away from the candidate, I'm sure he'll be a good chief."
Kaddy -- who sat on the Police Chief Search Committee -- said by appointing an outsider to the position, it is sending the wrong message to Fitchburg police officers.
"We're telling our guys they're not qualified, but there are a lot of good guys down there," Kaddy said.
All other councilors voted for DeMoura.
Councilor Marcus DiNatale asked DeMoura if he plans to move to Fitchburg from his current residence in Chelmsford, and DeMoura said he would eventually like to.
Councilor Joseph Solomito expressed concern about DeMoura driving a city-owned vehicle home every night but conceded that the chief needs to have a city-owned car.
According to a copy of DeMoura's contract, DeMoura will receive an unmarked police vehicle and the city will pay all operating and maintenance expenses.
DeMoura and Wong have finalized a three-year contract that will pay a base salary of $88,000, but will be worth about $121,000 per year with benefits, Wong has said. DeMoura will also be given 25 vacation days per year, according to the contract.
The contract also states that the city, with approval of the mayor, will reimburse DeMoura for the reasonable costs of travel, hotel and meal accommodations for DeMoura to attend conferences and programs for professional development.
This story appeared in the Lowell Sun on Wednesday, April 2, 2008