LONDONDERRY — After proudly giving out numerous awards to the Londonderry Police Department staff at Monday's Town Council meeting, it was Capt. William Hart's turn to shake hands with the town manager, assistant town manager and members of the council.
The Council unanimously approved Town Manager Dave Caron's nomination of Hart as the town's new police chief.
Hart replaces Joseph Ryan, who retired in January after serving the community for 30 years. He had been serving as interim chief until a new one was chosen.
Hart was one of two internal candidates for the position.
"I am very pleased that we were able to select a new chief from within the rank of the Londonderry Police Department," Caron said.
"As the recruitment and interview process progressed, we knew that seeking candidates for chief from outside the organization would not be necessary."
A selection team made up of Caron, Town Councilor Paul DiMarco, School Superintendent Nate Greenberg, a town administrator from another community and a police chief from another community interviewed Hart and the other candidate over the last two months before choosing Hart as top candidate, Caron said.
"I'm humbled by the responsibility that I now face and the shoes that I have to fill," Hart said at Monday's council meeting.
Hart earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Merrimack College and is a graduate of Boston College Law School. Additionally, he is a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps and a graduate of the New Hampshire Police Standards and Training Academy.
Hart had been a captain with the department since 2001 and served as Rockingham County attorney from 1995 to 1998. He was Londonderry's police prosecutor from 1992 to 1994.
Hart's salary as chief has been established at $90,250.
"Chief Ryan did an outstanding job in my judgment, assuring that Londonderry had professional police service at all times," Hart said in a phone interview Tuesday.
"Like so many communities, we are facing challenges in developing budgets and I look forward to working with the town's leaders to continue delivering the same level of professional service."
Londonderry Police Department Awards
Civilian of the Year
Michael Simpson
Officer of the Year
Detective Patrick Cheetham
Officer of the Year (Honorable Mention)
K-9 Officer John Perry
Department Award for Valor
Officer Jason Teufel
Officer Brian Allaire
Officer Joseph Bellino
Sergeant Ryan Kearney
Commendation Bar - Distinguished Unit Action
Sergeant David Carver
Sergeant Kim Bernard
Officer Brian Allaire
Officer Scott Balukonis
Officer Joseph Bellino
Officer Kelly Kulig
Officer Ronald Randall
Officer Glenn Aprile
Commendation Bar for Meritorious Service
K-9 Officer John Perry
Letters of Commendation
Officer Joseph Bellino
Sergeant Ryan Kearney
Officer Adam Lane
Officer Kristin Gore
Special Award for Community Service
Jonathon Watson, 12, of Chester
