Council declines to confirm interim chief; calls for outside search and a review process follow tense debate

The City Council met April 8 and voted on the mayor’s nomination to appoint the interim police chief as permanent chief. The nomination failed on a voice/roll‑call sequence and drew sustained public and council debate about process, transparency and departmental morale.

Councilors and members of the public debated whether the appointment should have followed a wider search and formal interview process. Several councilors urged a formal, external search and the creation of a search committee to consider both internal and outside candidates before a permanent appointment is made. Others emphasized the department’s need for stable leadership and said they had seen morale improvements during the interim chief’s trial period.

Public remarks included multiple endorsements of the interim police chief from current and retired department members. Mike Ferrera, a retired Fall River police officer who identified himself as a post‑certified special police officer, spoke in favor of the mayor’s nominee, saying the candidate "leads by example" and had years of service across ranks.

Council action and next steps: A councilor moved that the mayor conduct an internal and external search and establish a search committee; that motion passed. The council separately conducted the confirmation vote on the mayor’s appointment and the confirmation failed; councilors then voted to ask the mayor to convene the broader search process and return with recommendations. Several councilors asked the mayor to keep the interim chief in place while the search is completed and to update the council at the next finance/administrative meeting.

Why it matters: Police‑department leadership affects department culture, discipline policy, community policing and day‑to‑day public safety. The council’s decision to seek an external search signals demand for a more explicit, documented selection process in a department that multiple attendees described as having recurring internal conflict.

Context and concerns raised: Council discussion repeatedly referenced an outside investigation into allegations connected to the prior chief’s departure and the timing of personnel decisions. Some councilors urged restraint from public discussion of the investigation while others said the sequence of events raised questions about whether the city had followed best practices and whether an independent recruitment process would reduce perception of factionalism.

What supporters and opponents said (selected): Michael Ferrera (retired Fall River Police officer): "Kelly leads by example. She has never been a follower. Kelly is my friend. But most importantly, Kelly is a friend of this community."

Ending: The council voted to seek and request the mayor convene a search committee and pursue both internal and external candidates. The mayor’s office and corporation counsel will advise the council on next steps; the council and mayor’s office said they would aim to provide a timeline for a publicly documented search and an update at upcoming budget and administrative committee meetings.