Overview:
Athol Police Sgt. Jarrett Mousseau has been selected as the new police chief, succeeding Craig Lundgren who is set to retire next month. Mousseau, who has worked with the department for 30 years, was chosen unanimously by both interview panels. He will officially assume his new duties on Jan. 9, pending the completion of contract negotiations. Mousseau's priorities as chief will be to improve the community's relationship with the department and increase their visibility.
ATHOL – At Tuesday’s Selectboard meeting, Town Manager Shaun Suhoski announced that Athol Police Sgt. Jarrett Mousseau has been chosen as the department’s new police chief.
Mousseau will succeed current Chief Craig Lundgren, who must retire next month upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 65. Pending the completion of contract negotiations, Mousseau will officially assume his new duties on Jan. 9.
According to a statement from Suhoski’s office, Mousseau was one of a dozen applicants to replace Lundgren. A preliminary screening committee consisting of Selectboard members Bill Chiasson and Marc Maxwell, Finance Committee member Paul Nelson, Fire Chief Jeffrey Parker, and Athol-Royalston Regional School Superintendent Matthew Ehrenworth. narrowed the field down to three finalists.
The finalists were then interviewed by a panel consisting of Suhoski, Selectboard Chair Rebecca Bialecki, and Finance and Warrant Advisory Committee Chair Ken Duffy.
“Jarrett was the consensus pick by both interview panels,” said Suhoski Tuesday night.
“I just really need to thank my family, my friends, my co-workers, the board, Shaun,” Mousseau told the board. “Everybody has really been just fantastic. Chief Lundgren has already hit the ground running with me on the transition.
“I did not expect to have to rebuild half of the inside of the police station,” he added, referencing the recent flooding of police headquarters from a break in the building’s sprinkler system. “But we have good people working on that. And that’s moving along and we’ll keep updating the board on what’s going on with that.”
Suhoski told the meeting that Mousseau has 30 years of experience with the Athol Police Department, starting out as a dispatcher. Even before that, said the town manager, Mousseau had attended the Citizens Police Academy.
“He then worked his way up through the ranks, and for the last 10 years has served as senior sergeant,” said Suhoski. “He received his criminal justice degree from Curry College, with honors. He’s pretty impressive.”
Prior to the Selectboard meeting, Mousseau told the Athol Daily News, “I’m very excited to get started.”
Asked about his priorities as he assumes the job of chief, Mousseau said, “It’s the community’s relationship with the department. I’ve heard from a lot of the community members that they don’t see us out there a lot, and that’s going to change.”
The new police chief was born and raised in Athol, graduating from Athol High School in 1993.
In a written statement, Suhoski said, “Athol was extremely fortunate to have a group of highly qualified professionals – both internal and external – that expressed interest in leading the police department in our growing community. In the end, Jarret stood out as the unanimous choice to guide the department into its next chapter.”
Lundgren also said in a release, “I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Sergeant Mousseau on his well-deserved promotion to chief of police. Throughout my tenure, he has consistently stepped up whenever needed and has played a key role in making my time here both productive and rewarding. His professionalism, leadership, and commitment to this community are undeniable.
“I am confident that Chief Mousseau will continue to move the department forward and will serve the residents of Athol with integrity, dedication and vision.”