The Tisbury police chief said Monday that he will retire late this year, after three years on the job. In a letter to the select board, Mark Saloio said he will leave Nov. 5, at the end of his three-year contract.
The Tisbury police chief said Monday that he will retire late this year, after three years on the job.
In a letter to the select board, Mark Saloio said he will leave Nov. 5, at the end of his three-year contract.
“I intend on retiring from law enforcement . . . I have determined that now is an appropriate time to transition to new opportunities,” Chief Saloio wrote in a May 17 letter addressed to town administrator John (Jay) Grande and the three select board members.
In his letter Mr. Saloio cited accomplishments during his tenure, including taking steps to modernize internal systems and improve the culture. “Among all these accomplishments, we are most proud of the fact that we are preparing to achieve the long-anticipated goal of state accreditation at the end of this month. Additionally, staffing within our agency has been stabilized, with very little turnover,” the chief wrote.
The Tisbury police department has suffered from deeply entrenched internal problems for many years, and has been the subject of lawsuits and allegations of discrimination and harassment. Turnover has been frequent in the top ranks of the department.
Mr. Saloio took the job in November 2018, following the retirement of chief Daniel Hanavan. He was the lone candidate for the job, and was formerly an administrative lieutenant in the Sturbridge police department, where he had worked for 25 years. At the time he emphasized a long-term commitment to the town.
“I want to finish my career here, and I want to remain here,” Mr. Saloio said.
His tenure has been rocky at times.
Last year the town settled a federal lawsuit with former police Lieut. Eerik Meisner for $400,000. Mr. Meisner left the department in 2019 after he had been demoted from lieutenant to sergeant. The former lieutenant had alleged breach of contract, civil rights violations and wrongful termination.
In exchange for the settlement, Mr. Meisner agreed to drop all pending legal claims, and to never seek future employment with the town.
Last month select board members voted to begin negotiating with Chief Saloio on the renewal of his contract, which included an automatic renewal clause by May 3 if the town took no action.
It was unclear whether the select board had issues with the chief or was simply taking steps under the terms of the contract.
Under those terms, the town and the chief were due to agree on terms for a new contract by June 30.
Reached by telephone Monday, Chief Saloio said only that he felt it was the right time, and that he wanted to give the town plenty of time to plan for his replacement.
“It’s an appropriate time to transition to something new,” he said. “But we still have a lot of work to do, and high season is coming.”
Comments
Least supportive town on the
Barry B. TisburyLeast supportive town on the island. I can’t blame him for jumping off the rudderless SS Tisbury. Good luck finding a competent replacement.
The police department, and
Mark VHThe police department, and the town, will be much better off under new leadership.
Good luck finding someone.
Mike VHGood luck finding someone.
The town, and its citizens,
Brian TisburyThe town, and its citizens, will be much better off after they pledge to participate in an island-wide regional police force, and permanently close the hopeless Tisbury Police Department.
Enough is enough.
You're so right. Think about
Kelce OBYou're so right. Think about it - this little island has 6 police chiefs and a sheriff. It's ridiculous.
Kielce Think about this how
Bob EdgartownKielce Think about this how many retired police chiefs are on the island as well. All collecting 80% of their salary and medical benefits for the rest of their life. Some of these police chiefs are only in their 60s and will end up collecting for 20 or 30 years. Edgartown alone has three police chiefs that I know of in retirement. The amount of money the Island spends on police departments is crazy.
The Chief served the town
Good man TisburyThe Chief served the town just ok. Anyone coming from the Mainland has difficulty and he just didn't fit in from day one. This is not unexpected or the Chief's fault, this island just eats off island management up. You can not do something one way in an off island town and expect to come to this island, anywhere on this island and expect to "enjoy" your waning years in your career.
This phenomenon is not limited to Tisbury, it's the island.
Edgartown
Smitty EdgartownEdgartown
It seems as if the town of Tisbury’s Select Board is out of touch. I wonder how many times any of the town government (personnel manager, selectboard) have meddled with the day to day operations of the department. Becoming a Chief in Tisbury seems to be a career-killer. For decades the common denominator seems to be the unprepared and uninformed selectboard/town administrators. Most importantly, but most sad, the police department has never really received any support from the town hall in Tisbury. When will this change? Edgartown, Oak Bluffs, those towns openly support and advocate for their departments. Tisbury Select Board members seem to balk at the advancement and modernization of the department. May god be with the next Chief of the Tisbury Police Department and the men and women who patrol and protect that town.
It is absurdity that this
Restorative Justice ChilmarkIt is absurdity that this island has so many police, especially as we are finally reckoning with the abusiveness of the system. Take this opportunity and do not replace this chief!
Its a 'revolving door' in
here we go again edgIts a 'revolving door' in that department. It should be quite apparent by the fact that he was the lone applicant for the position. Its no secret among law enforcement professionals that NOBODY wants to work there. Lots of blame to go around, but if the various boards of selectmen over the years allowed whomever was the Chief to do their job, things might have been different. Maybe the Current board should try something different. Hire a Chief, let him/her run the department, including hiring, firing and promoting, and stay out of the TPD business. First time for everything.
Once again, the one who
If Only.... VHOnce again, the one who raises their voice the loudest is the only one that is heard. Any resident of Vineyard Haven, or any town on this Island who really understands the politics that surround positions like this would commend and take their hat off to Chief Saloio. Of course, it is these same folks that sit back and are silent. Chief Saloio did not create any of the problems (ie lawsuits), but inherited them. The Town of Tisbury NEVER once went to bat for their Chief or the dedicated men and women that protect the community. Chief Saloio is a truly dedicated man who has always stood up for his Officers. Tisbury says they want change, but they don’t...if they did they would allow the Chief to run his Department as he sees fit. The select board itself leaves quite a lot to be desired. This is a time where the silent should find their voice and not sit back and allow the loudest voice to over power. Congratulate Chief Saloio on his retirement and all the good he has done for the town, the department and all of his fellow officers.
Well said. Our town has been
Kristin VHWell said. Our town has been floundering for years.
I have absolutely no faith in
Im Done TisburyI have absolutely no faith in our town anymore or any of our departments as I have seen it all and am totally disgusted.
They cant even be shamed into doing what is rightfully expected of them. Wish I was able to move to another town but am way to old for that. Actually I have only voted in presidential elections the past 18 years even though I know my vote never counts, (wink)!
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