ROYALSTON – The Selectboard has chosen Royalston Police Sgt. Josh LaMarche to be the town’s next full-time police chief.
The nine-year-veteran of the department was named following a month-long search, which began after Templeton Police Sgt. Steve Flis resigned a week after being named chief in April.
The appointment is subject to successful contract negotiations. The contract that had been approved for Flis set the chief’s salary at $101,000.
At its meeting on July 9, the Selectboard interviewed LaMarche, a resident of Athol, and Bolton Police Senior Sgt. Christopher Bradley, who lives in Princeton. The two officers were chosen as finalists by a search committee, which reviewed the qualifications of the four applicants.
“We had very qualified candidates apply for this position,” said Selectboard member Steve Egan. “We were diligent in considering their qualifications and how they answered our questions.
“After careful consideration, we felt Mr. LaMarche was a better fit for Royalston,” he added. “His familiarity with the community and its citizens, as well as his positive reputation and professional acumen, made him the right choice.”
In March 2023, LaMarche completed more than 180 hours of training with the state’s Municipal Police Bridge Academy, which is run by the Municipal Police Training Committee. A year earlier, he received certification from the National Association of School Resource officers. In 2019, he was certified as a Drug Abuse Resistance Education instructor.
Prior to joining the Royalston Police, LaMarche was employed as an armed security officer for U.S. Security Associates and worked at Mass Registry of Motor Vehicle offices in Worcester, Chicopee and Springfield. In 2008, LaMarche and his wife Mary were honored with a Youth Leader of the Year Award by the Orange Elks.
Josh LaMarche told the Athol Daily News that he wants to ensure a smooth transition as he takes over leadership of the department from Curtis Deveneau, who has served as part-time chief for 34 years.
“I want to keep things going well, making sure we have the coverage necessary to take care of all the shifts,” he said.
Josh LaMarche said he wants to assure residents that he is committed to the community and is “not going anywhere.”
The new chief said one of his first priorities will be hiring the department’s first full-time officer. In September 2025, Royalston voters approved a $173,000 Proposition 2 ½ override to make the hiring of a full-time chief and an officer possible.
Candidates for the position, he said, “will mostly come from within. I want to offer the opportunity to the officers who have already proven themselves in this department.”