The Confirmation of Appointments and Personnel Matters Committee voted to approve the appointment of Ryan Westgate to the Somerville Police Department and referred the nomination to the full City Council for a final vote tomorrow.

The vote concluded a public committee interview during which members and city staff discussed police staffing levels, the timing of the next police academy and the limits imposed by civil service and legal advice on what the committee may review about new hires before medical clearance.

Chief Benford presented Westgate and described him as a lifelong Somerville resident and “a proud graduate of Somerville High School,” highlighting the candidate’s academic record and local ties. "We're extremely proud of what he comes in with intellectually," Chief Benford said. Ryan Westgate, who identified himself as a correctional officer with the Middlesex County Sheriff's Office, told committee members he wants to serve Somerville, described being drawn to de-escalation and community conversations, and said he has worked with Roca in Chelsea.

Committee members asked several procedural and substance questions. Director Gill and Anne Gilder of Tribute Human Resources explained that additional candidates are still in the hiring pipeline and that the city must meet state civil service and administrative requirements before reserving academy seats. Chief Benford said the next announced police academy is scheduled for March and described the full timeline from processing and academy training through field training as frequently taking roughly a year from start to on‑street service.

On staffing, Chief Benford said the department had 78 sworn patrol officers filled "as of Monday"; the exact number of budgeted patrol positions was not specified in the meeting. Committee members pressed staff on how the city monitors candidates between background processing and the public interview; Director Gill said applicants are required to notify the city of arrests or changes and that the department would likely learn of serious legal events through its checks before a candidate appears before the committee.

The chair summarized city solicitor guidance that, for new hires with no prior Somerville employment history, the committee may not consider information that was reviewed by the mayor’s office prior to a candidate’s medical exam. The chair said that limitation reduces what the committee can review in executive session for new hires, but added the committee still finds value in public interviews.

The committee called roll on agenda item 24‑1762 (appointment of Ryan Westgate). Councilor Katie Newfield voted yes, Councilor Quinn voted yes and Councilor Ewingampen voted yes; two members were absent. The committee also approved the minutes and adjourned in the same session. The committee’s approvals will be taken up by the full City Council at its meeting tomorrow.

The meeting included multiple councilors and city staff, and the staffing and procedural questions raised could shape near‑term discussions about recruitment, academy capacity and public vetting of hires.