Hampden Select Board authorizes conditional offer to Sergeant Daniel Bruno for police chief; minutes approved

At its Oct. 6 meeting the Town of Hampden Select Board authorized the town administrator to contact Sergeant Daniel Bruno and begin a conditional offer of appointment to the position of police chief, contingent on a successful background check, psychological evaluation and medical examination.

The action follows a multi-stage search process: the board, with assistance from the town administrator and an outside search consultant and assessment center, winnowed a larger field to three finalists. One candidate withdrew before interviews. The board conducted roughly half-hour interviews with three finalists the prior Thursday and reviewed the assessment-center materials before returning to the topic at this meeting.

Select board members discussed nominee fit for a small-town department and weighed the candidates’ qualifications and community ties. The board received nominations for Captain Carl Massifaro and for Sergeant Daniel Bruno during the meeting. After discussion members authorized the town administrator to contact Sergeant Bruno and begin preparing a conditional offer letter that specifies successful completion of background, psychological and medical checks.

The board also voted to approve the Select Board minutes from Sept. 29, 2025.

The meeting record shows no recorded roll-call vote totals for the conditional-offer authorization; the board approved the authorization by voice vote. The authorization instructs the town administrator to begin offer discussions and to confirm conditions; any final appointment remains subject to successful pre-employment checks and completion of any paperwork or salary discussions.