Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone announced today that Somerville Police Captain Charles Femino has agreed to serve as the Interim Acting Chief of Police beginning on Dec. 1, 2013, until a permanent replacement is found for departing Chief Thomas Pasquarello.

Femino is currently Chief of Detectives for the Somerville Police Department, a position he has held since 2011 and previously held from 2005 to 2009. He served as Deputy Chief of Police in 2010 and has been an officer with the Somerville Police Department since 1984. Femino has also performed in a variety of progressively responsible positions in his career in the Somerville Police Department and has distinguished himself in each. He holds a Juris Doctor from New England School of Law, a Masters Degree in Education from Boston University and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Science from Northeastern University. As the Interim Acting Chief, Femino will not be eligible to apply for the permanent Chief of Police position.

“I have every confidence in Captain Femino. He has both the leadership ability and the breadth of experience to serve in this role and I know that he will continue to move the police department forward,” Mayor Curtatone said. “We will begin the official search for a new Chief of Police right away. This will be an open, transparent and public process as outlined in the Somerville City Charter and City Ordinance. We know that this process will likely take several months. I am very proud and pleased with the progress the Somerville Police Department has made over the past several years and will continue to make in the future.”

Pasquarello is resigning to care for a family member in need of round-the-clock care, he stated in a letter submitted to and accepted by Mayor Curtatone on Monday, Nov. 4. His last day as chief will be Dec. 1, 2013 and has agreed to make himself available to assist with the transition to a new Chief.

The Mayor will select a new police chief in accordance with the City Charter and City Ordinance, which requires a Police Chief Selection Committee that will be promptly organized and consisting of:

• the City’s Director of Personnel
• one member of the Board of Aldermen appointed by the Board President
• the director of the City’s multicultural affairs commission
• two members of the general public appointed by the Mayor
• two members of the general public appointed by the Board President
• two sworn officers of the Somerville Police Department, one representing the patrol officers’ union and one representing the superior officers’ union, both elected to represent by those respective unions

Between three and five candidates chosen as finalists by the selection committee will take part in a public interview, with residents and community members invited to attend and submit written questions ahead of time as well.

– City of Somerville press release