~Photo by Andrew Firestone
By Andrew Firestone The stage was set for a showdown for the job of Somerville’s top cop this Wednesday, July 7, when community activists turned out at City Hall to learn about the final four candidates for the Chief of Police.

Drug Enforcement Agency director Thomas Pasquarello, Haverhill Police Chief Alan DeNaro, Lowell Police Captain William Taylor and Somerville Acting Chief Michael Cabral took turns answering questions on law-enforcement philosophies and qualifications. ranging from strategies involving organization and budgetary concerns, to dealing with the problems posed by gangs such as the El Salvadoran MS-13.

The homegrown Cabral raised his status as a member of the Somerville PD since 1987. “This is my city,” he declared, claiming that his own knowledge of the inner workings of the department set him above the competition. “I’ve worked here for twenty-two years. I’ve grown up here. My family lives here, my fiends live here. This is my police department.”

Pasquarello, a native of Cambridge, touted his experience working abroad for the DEA in regions of Africa, and Asia as proof of his qualifications. Pasquarello noted his own experience in dealing with “multicultural environments” through his service abroad. “Somerville is basically my home,” he said. “I think that what [being chief] requires is a leader, someone that’s been proven not just throughout the city, not just throughout the state, but throughout the world.”

When asked about his past mistakes, Pasquerello responded “I set the bar exceedingly high for my people.” He said that, at times, this high standard could “create stress” in the lives of his officers that “creates havoc” in those unused to his strict codes of conduct both on and off duty.

One hot-button topic brought up involved immigration rights. Taylor, whose current city of Lowell closely resembles Somerville in population diversity, noted the need to avoid hard-handed confrontation, such as bringing in the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency. “A trust and bond needs to be created in the community,” he said. Taylor believed bringing in the ICE would create an “underclass” that would be “violated by their own community.” “A local police department cannot violate that trust,” he said.

Cabral was passionate in his response. “Somerville is a sanctuary city,” he said, reminding others of Somerville’s openness towards immigrants “We welcome people from other countries in this city. We protect them.” While remaining vigilant in protecting peaceful expatriates, Cabral said he wouldn’t hesitate to move in on more violent elements. “If you want to come here and commit crimes, you’re kicked out.”

Cabral also said he would also not tolerate any form of police brutality, referring to past incidents such as the much publicized lawsuit of the Somerville PD against Officer Marcos Freitas in 2008, who was fired under Cabral’s tenure.

“If a police officer tarnishes this badge, embarrasses this police department, I will take the appropriate action necessary to remove that police officer from the streets of Somerville.”

Another issue close to home were concerns over the shrinking budget. Taylor noted “Somerville is uniquely situated in that it is surrounded by institutions of higher education.” Taylor deemed these universities an “untapped resource”, mentioning such institutions as Harvard, Tufts and MIT, and said he would work with these groups to make up for possible budget shortfalls.

Pasquarello countered that, rather than going to private institutions, he would use his experience working at the federal level to seek out grants from other law enforcement agencies.

Despite acknowledging the historic proportions of budgetary concerns, Cabral was less eager to rely upon outside help in order to balance the budget. He said that through close monitoring of resources, he had been able to save personnel from layoffs during recent budget cuts.

Haverhill’s DeNaro shared his vision of a more responsive law-enforcement strategy, reminding the community that sometimes the public suffers more from bike thefts than bank robberies. He claimed he would “get away from the traditional views and models of what being a police chief is,” opting for community interests over arrests and would learn and listen to the public complaints.

Moderator Dorie Clark noted they’d been this situation only three years earlier and chose Holloway, who left after only two years. When asked whether they intended to finish out their five-year term, all of the candidates said they intended to finish out their careers in Somerville.

Despite the strong qualifications and rhetoric of the three candidates from outside the city left from the nationwide search, the community seemed impressed with local Michael Cabral, who took over as acting chief when former chief Anthony Holloway returned to Florida earlier this year. “I thought that the best candidate for the job is the chief we already have,” said long-time resident Maureen Spear. “Somerville, the All-American City, Mike Cabral the All-American chief.”

Community activist Elysee Castor who works for the city with immigrant populations also voiced support for Cabral. “He grew up in the city. He went to school in the city. So far for the last six months and so far he has shown enormous good work for the city of Somerville.”

Some were not so sure. Kathleen Ortio said of Pasquarello, “He’s been all over the world, globally engaged. Initially, I thought he was the best candidate,” she said. “Initially”.

The public can comment on the finalists to the Mayor’s Office until 5:00 P.M. on July 14th. The Mayor Jospeh Curtatone will interview each of the four finalists before sending his choice to the board of Aldermen for approval.