Braintree mayor says he will promote next police chief from within; Dubois headed to Maine

BRAINTREE − Mayor Charles Kokoros says the next police chief will be promoted from within the department to replace Chief Mark Dubois, who is leaving for a job in Maine.

Dubois, who has been police chief for nearly four years, will leave later this month to become chief of the Portland, Maine, police department. With 159 sworn officers and 59 civilian employees, the Portland department is about twice the size of Braintree's. The appointment came after a nationwide search.

"It's a really good opportunity for him," Kokoros said. "He's done a great job and handled a lot of difficult situations. It's an opportunity he had to take."

Kokoros described Dubois as a "hands-on chief" with whom he met weekly.

More: Police, light department staff top Braintree town salary list; one made nearly $300,000

"We had a great working relationship," the mayor said. "It's a great loss for us and a great win for Portland."

During his tenure in Braintree, the department obtained accreditation from the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission, something that had been a goal of his predecessor, Paul Shastany.

Dubois came to Braintree from the Maynard Police Department, where he had been chief for seven years. Before that, he rose through the ranks of the Shrewsbury Police Department, going from a patrol officer to a lieutenant commanding the operations division in 12 years. He also spent six years as a Northboro police officer, and began his career as a reserve police officer and police dispatcher.

He is also a lawyer and an Army Reserve officer. Dubois has a home in Old Orchard Beach, Maine.

Kokoros said he has posted the job of police chief internally, with applications due July 25.

"We have such great talent within the department that it is only appropriate that I look within the department for our next chief," he said.

More: Braintree's new police officers include Mayor Kokoros' son: 'I could not be more proud'

He said the department's superior officers have demonstrated their abilities during recent incidents, including last month's double murder on Alfred Road.

The last two police chiefs came from outside the department. Shastany was Stoughton's police chief. The two chiefs before that were both from within the department.

Kokoros said he plans to have a retired law enforcement official help interview the candidates for the job. He said he hopes to make an appointment around the time of Dubois' departure.

The appointment is subject to town council confirmation.

Reach Fred Hanson at fhanson@patriotledger.com.

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This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Braintree police chief leaving; next candidate to come from inside