Northborough chooses the town's next police chief. Who he is and what his goals are

NORTHBOROUGH — Brian Griffin grew up in Northborough and continues to live there. And now he's the town's new police chief.

The Select Board last Monday voted unanimously to appoint Griffin to replace the retiring William Lyver.

"I was born and raised in Northborough, so to be promoted to chief of police is really just an honor," said Griffin, 46. "I'm just honored to continue a longstanding tradition of a police department that has always provided a top level of public safety service for the residents of Northborough."

Griffin officially becomes chief on Jan. 1.

Lyver announced his retirement in October and recommended Griffin as his replacement, a choice supported by interim Town Administrator Michael Gallagher.

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“I’m very pleased the town will have continuity of Police Department leadership when Chief Lyver retires at the end of December, and Lt. Griffin moves up to become our new police chief," board Chairman Mitch Cohen said Tuesday.

Griffin is a lifelong Northborough resident

Griffin is a 1995 graduate of Algonquin Regional High School and holds a degree in criminology from Assumption College, now Assumption University. He joined the Northborough Police Department in 2000.

"I've held pretty much every position in the department," he said. "I began my career 23 years ago as a patrolman and I spent the majority of my career as a detective and detective sergeant — 15 years. That's my bread and butter — investigations."

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He was promoted to lieutenant in 2020 and has spent much of his time since then doing office work, such as working toward accreditation, arranging and scheduling training and working on the department's policies and procedures.

"What I'm most excited about going on into the new position is getting back out into the community," said Griffin. "The last couple of years as a lieutenant, I've been in my office doing policy. I really missed the day-to-day interactions with the residents."

Griffin wants to build on what he says is an already strong culture

Griffin said the first order of business when he is sworn in is to have a department meeting with all officers and civilian employees to go over their thoughts on what's needed for the department and their goals going forward.

"I want to sit with them and listen to them and to listen to their ideas and what they think before I put my ideas out there," said Griffin. "It's important for them to be heard."

Griffin said he has some ideas, but added he's becoming the leader of a department that is fully staffed with 30 officers and civilian staff members and has been run effectively for many years.

"The department runs very well," said Griffin. "That's a credit to the past chiefs and the staff. What is very desirable about working here is we have great support from our Select Board, our Town Hall staff and our residents and, most importantly, what will make it easy for me is I have the best police officers and dispatchers around."

Norman Miller can be reached at 508-626-3823 or nmiller@wickedlcoal.com. For up-to-date public safety news, follow him on X @Norman_MillerMW or on Facebook at facebook.com/NormanMillerCrime.

This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: New Northborough police chief is a familiar face in town