Middleborough Police Chief Joseph Perkins has retired after a 35-year career in law enforcement. (Photo courtesy Middleborough Police Department)
MIDDLEBOROUGH — Town Manager James McGrail and Select Board Chair Mark A. Germain would like to announce the retirement of Police Chief Joseph Perkins after a 35-year career in law enforcement.
Perkins, who was unanimously chosen as the police chief by the Middleborough Select Board in September 2014, retired on Saturday. Perkins succeeded Police Chief Bruce Gates.
“We are so sad to see Joe leave, but very excited for him after his decades of incredible service to the profession and this community,” Town Manager McGrail said. “Joe is one of the best police chiefs I’ve worked with and the residents of Middleborough were extremely fortunate for his leadership.”
“I’m truly grateful for the relationship that Joe and I have shared over the years, both personally and professionally,” Select Board Chair Germain said. “While we are disappointed that he is leaving, we all wish him nothing but the best in retirement.”
Perkins began his career as a provisional police officer in Middleborough in 1989, then joined the Mattapoisett Police Department full-time in 1990. From 1994 to 1999, he served as a police officer, then acting sergeant for the Lakeville Police Department. Perkins rejoined the Middleborough Police Department as an officer in January 2000. He became a detective in 2001 and was promoted to detective sergeant in 2009. Perkins was promoted to lieutenant in 2014 and served as head of the detective division until he was selected as the chief later that year.
“It has been an honor and a privilege to work my way up the ranks of my hometown police department and serve the Middleborough community for nearly three decades,” Chief Perkins said. “I take great pride in the profession and serving the public who puts their trust in us. I must thank the dedicated police officers I’ve worked with throughout the years — they are extremely committed and have been incredible to work with. There is a bright future ahead for Middleborough and its Police Department.”
As police chief, Perkins led the department to accreditation in 2022 through the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission (MPAC). Accreditation is a years-long, self-initiated process that includes rigorous independent review and evaluation by MPAC of the department’s compliance with 257 mandatory standards and 125 optional standards. To achieve accreditation status, the department must meet all applicable mandatory standards as well as 55 percent of the optional standards.
Perkins oversaw the design and construction of the new $9.5 million police headquarters that opened on Wood Street in December 2018. The new 16,750-square-foot station replaced a building that opened in 1819 as a general store and was converted into a police station and courthouse in 1938. The court moved in 1978 and the building served exclusively as the Town’s police station from 1978 to 2018.
Perkins served as control chief and was a co-founding member of the Southeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council Critical Incident Stress Management and Peer Support Unit. The peer-driven, clinically supported law enforcement unit is brought in post-incident to debrief police officers. It is police officers helping police officers navigate the emotional aftermath of a traumatic event based on personal experience and specialized training.
During his time as chief, Perkins also served as president of the Plymouth County Chiefs of Police in 2021, a member of the Chiefs Advisory Committee for Plymouth County Outreach, an executive board member for the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police and president and an executive board member for the Southeastern Massachusetts Chiefs of Police.
Perkins graduated from the FBI National Academy as part of Class 242 in 2010. His course of study included public speaking, conflict resolution, leadership, ethics and interpersonal communications.
In the absence of the police chief, Deputy Chief Robert Ferreira will be the acting police chief. The Middleborough Select Board will discuss the next steps at a future meeting.
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