The town’s acting police chief has recommended longtime Edgartown police officer David Rossi as the new police chief.

John M. (Jack) Collins, a labor attorney who has been acting police chief since January, made his recommendations for police department leadership to the board of selectmen meeting Monday. The board took the recommendations under advisement.

Acting chief Jack Collins delivers report to selectmen.

Mark Lovewell

Acting chief Jack Collins delivers report to selectmen.

Mark Lovewell

Mr. Rossi “has all the stuff to be a great chief,” Mr. Collins told the selectmen at the end of delivering a lengthy evaluation of the police department. Most of the department was in attendance.

Mr. Collins also recommended that the town appoint Det. Sgt. Christopher Dolby as lieutenant, a position that has been unfilled.

Former chief Antone Bettencourt officially retired in early May. In January, the selectmen named Mr. Collins to serve as interim chief as he helped the town identify Mr. Bettencourt’s successor.

Mr. Collins also created an 89-page report about his findings. He told selectmen that he interviewed most, if not all, members of the department, about who should serve as chief. Mr. Collins also created an evaluation of the structure, strengths and challenges facing the department.

At the end of the meeting, Mr. Collins made his recommendations, praising Mr. Rossi for being fair, objective and devoted to the town.

“If he was running for mayor of the town he might beat all of us,” he said.

Mr. Rossi has served as a school resource officer at the Edgartown School and is a member of the Edgartown school committee. His brother, Daniel Rossi, is the West Tisbury police chief.

Mr. Collins recommended Mr. Dolby as lieutenant. “Chris Dolby is my idea of a wonderful, nearly perfect cop,” he said, adding that fellow officers said he was the department’s most energetic and productive member.

“Do you have other people who are good candidates?” Mr. Collins said. “You betcha. The real leader will take advantage of these people and make sure they become a part of the team.”

Mr. Rossi, a 25-year veteran with the Edgartown police, said after the meeting that he was honored by the recommendation. “If they appoint me, I’m going to take it,” he said.

He said he is excited by the prospect of working with Mr. Dolby. “I think we’re going to work well together,” he said. “My strengths and his strengths...we’re going to draw off each other and I think we’ll work well as a team.”

Mr. Dolby, who grew up in Edgartown, started with the Edgartown police department as a traffic officer as a college freshman. He has been with the department since 1995.

“I look forward to the opportunity,” Mr. Dolby said. “It’s a privilege to be a police officer with the town of Edgartown.”