A legacy of service: Middleboro police chief retires after 35 years of public service

MIDDLEBORO – After 35 years of public service, Middleboro Police Chief Joseph Perkins quietly retired from duty last week.

“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 in a press release.

Perkins served as chief of the Middleboro police department for the last 10 years.

“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,” Middleboro Town Manager James McGrail said.

“I’m truly grateful for the relationship that Joe and I have shared over the years, both personally and professionally,” Select Board Chair Mark Germain said. “While we are disappointed that he is leaving, we all wish him nothing but the best in retirement.”

Said Perkins in a press release: “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.”

Doing the work, rising in the ranks

Perkins started as a provisional officer with the Middleboro Police Department in 1989.  His early career wasn’t spent in his hometown as he spent four years with the Mattapoisett Police Department, and then five years with the Lakeville Police Department, reaching the rank of acting sergeant while there.

In early 2000, Perkins returned to the Middleboro Police Department.  After a year he earned the rank of detective, then became detective sergeant in 2009.

He again rose in the ranks in 2014 to lieutenant before being selected as chief later that same year, taking over for retiring Police Chief Bruce Gates.

Upon being selected, Perkins said in 2014 that he intended on modernizing the department to meet the needs of today’s community, saying his focus would be on “communication, problem solving, crime prevention,” and a more forgiving approach to drug problems built around education and treatment.

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A new home for Middleboro Police

Since taking over as chief in 2014 , Perkins also lobbied hard to get a new building for the department.

Middleboro Police had been homed inside the Peirce Building, an old building established in 1819 as a general store, and eventually converted into both the town’s courthouse and police station in 1938.  The courthouse relocated in 1978, leaving the police station the sole inhabitant from 1978-2018.

In 2016, the town approved, through town meeting, a $9.5 million new public safety building, located on Wood Street, to be funded with a debt exclusion.

“It was never in doubt that there was a need, it was a matter of prioritizing different things in town over the years, whether it was a new middle school or fire station. And the police… we waited, patiently I think, and we just do our jobs. That’s the mentality of a police officer. And now we’re thankful that the town recognized it was time and we’re very happy that it’s happening,” Perkins said at the groundbreaking for the new police station in 2017.

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Other accomplishments

Perkins is a co-founding member of the Southeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council (SEMLEC) Critical Incident Stress Management and Peer Support Unit.  This unit debriefs and helps fellow police officers deal with any trauma or lingering emotions associated with tragic incidents occurring on the job.

He was also a former President of the Plymouth County Chiefs of Police and was an executive board member for the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police.

Next in line

Deputy Chief Robert Ferreira has been named acting police chief during this transitional period.  The Middleboro Select Board will discuss the next steps associated with finding a permanent police chief at an upcoming meeting.

This article originally appeared on The Taunton Daily Gazette: A legacy of service: Middleboro police chief retires after 35 years of public service