Police Chief - Aquinnah, MA

The Town of Aquinnah invites applications from experienced, highly qualified, community- oriented law-enforcement professionals for the position of Chief of Police. Aquinnah is seeking a proven leader who will provide professional, ethical, progressive, and highly visible leadership to the Aquinnah Police Department and who recognizes the distinctive responsibilities of leading a small-community police agency on Martha’s Vineyard.

The successful candidate will succeed the Town’s retiring Police Chief and will be responsible for the overall leadership, administration, operation, and professional standards of the Aquinnah Police Department.

The Aquinnah Police Department is committed to protecting the rights, lives, and property of all persons and to working in partnership with the community with respect, fairness, and compassion.

The Chief must be comfortable serving in a community in which effective policing depends upon accessibility, sound judgment, trust, collaboration, and strong relationships.

The Chief will work closely with Town officials; residents and visitors; the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah); other Martha’s Vineyard police departments; the Massachusetts State Police; the Dukes County Sheriff’s Office and regional public-safety agencies; fire and emergency medical services; prosecutors; courts; schools; human-service organizations; and other local, state, tribal, and federal partners.

The position presents an opportunity for an experienced law-enforcement leader to guide a community-focused police department while personally participating in the delivery of police services.

The Position

The Chief of Police serves as the executive and operational leader of the Aquinnah Police Department and is responsible for the effective, lawful, professional, and efficient delivery of police services.

Among the Chief’s principal responsibilities are:

• Providing overall leadership and direction to the Department;
• Supervising, evaluating, developing, and holding personnel accountable;
• Establishing Department goals, priorities, policies, procedures, and professional standards;
• Overseeing patrol, investigations, traffic enforcement, emergency response, community policing, and other Department operations;
• Ensuring compliance with Massachusetts Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission (POST) requirements and Municipal Police Training Committee (MPTC) requirements;
• Maintaining effective internal-affairs, complaint-investigation, and professional- standards systems;
• Recruiting, developing, mentoring, and retaining qualified personnel; Administering collective bargaining agreements and participating in labor relations;
• Preparing and administering the Department budget;
• Maintaining appropriate training, records, technology, evidence, equipment, and administrative systems;
• Developing effective relationships with the community, tribal government, Town officials, other law-enforcement agencies, and regional public-safety partners;
• Participating in emergency-management and critical-incident planning and response;
• Promoting constitutional policing, procedural justice, de-escalation, fair and impartial policing, professionalism, accountability, and public confidence; and
• Performing sworn police functions when necessary to meet the operational needs of the Department.

Application Process

Applicants should submit:

• A letter of interest describing their qualifications and interest in serving as Chief of Police for the Town of Aquinnah;
• A current resume;
• Copes or identification of applicable POST, MPTC, academy, and executive training certifications;
• The names and contact information of at least professional references

Application materials should be submitted to: Jeffrey Madison, Town Administrator. Town of Aquinnah, 955 State Road, Aquinnah, MA 02535. townadministrator@aquinnah-ma.gov

Applications received by Friday, September 18, 2026 will receive priority consideration. The position will remain open until filled unless otherwise announced. Applicants should not submit confidential background-investigation records with their initial application. Finalists will be required to participate fully in the Town’s background and pre- employment review process.

The Town reserves the right to conduct interviews in multiple stages and to require finalists to participate in assessment exercises, additional interviews, background investigation, and other lawful components of the selection process.

The Town of Aquinnah is an Equal Opportunity Employer.