Revere Mayor Hopes New Police Chief Brings Positive Change
REVERE (CBS) - Twenty-year veteran police officer Joseph Cafarelli has a big job on his hands. Revere's new Mayor, Dan Rizzo, has named Lt. Cafarelli to be the Acting Chief of the Revere Police Department. Mayor Rizzo says he wants new leadership to bring a fresh, positive change to the department, which has faced low morale and public problems. Mayor Rizzo says, "I want to put the very best product out on the street for the people of Revere."
In 2007, Revere Police officer Dan Talbot was shot and killed at the high school parking lot where a group off duty officers were drinking. Another officer, Sgt. Evan Franklin, admitted he was drunk and fled the scene.
WBZ-TV's Karen Anderson reports
Last year WBZ-TV's I-Team revealed Revere Police Officer Michael Mullen was spending hours at home when he should have been on patrol. The Mayor's office says Officer Mullen is on unpaid suspension, pending the investigation following the WBZ-TV I-Team report.
Acting Chief Cafarelli was sworn in today. He told the crowd of people at City Hall, "I intend to be your worthy leader."
Cafarelli comes from a family of police officers. He currently serves with his brother and cousin on the force. He says he believes he can bring about change with the support of his team. "What happened in the past, happened in the past. Right now we're stepping in a new direction, and I want to bring my officers around."
By ordinance in Revere, the Mayor cannot hire a Chief from outside the department. However, he says the City Council is currently working on an ordinance change to allow the Mayor to select from outside that community.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Laurie Kirby reports
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But he says he has 100% confidence in Acting Chief Cafarelli. "He's commanded the respect of every office I have spoken to on the Revere Police Department."
Outgoing Chief, Terence Reardon, will continue to work at the department as a Captain.
