Mayor: West Springfield police chief finalists' interviews to start next month

Mayor Gregory Neffinger had hoped an investigation by federal authorities of a finalist for police chief here would have been concluded by now.

Republican file photo

WEST SPRINGFIELD — WEST SPRINGFIELD – Interviews by the Public Safety Committee of the three finalists for the job of police chief are expected to start after Nov. 5, according to the mayor.

Gregory Neffinger

Mayor Gregory C. Neffinger said Tuesday that the finalists have all been given a month to complete take-home examinations that will be due Nov. 5, after which the committee will start interviews.

The search has been slowed by the fact that one of the finalists for the position, Police Capt. Daniel M. O’Brien, has been under investigation by the federal government since February.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office is probing his treatment of a woman in custody during the Big E last fall. District Attorney Mark G. Mastroianni in February completed his part of the investigation in February and turned over information to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Springfield.

Meanwhile, Neffinger said there is no word from the U.S. Attorney’s Office as to when it will finish the probe.

Christina Sterling, spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, reiterated Wednesday that her office can neither confirm nor deny the existence of an investigation.

Earlier, Neffinger had hoped the probe would end in time for him to be able to choose a new chief this month.

“We are getting to the point where we really need to choose someone. We are getting the point where this department really needs a chief to move forward,” the mayor said.

The Police Department has been without a chief since longtime Chief Thomas E. Burke retired in March. Police Capt. Ronald P. Capurciani is running the department in the interim. Campurciani and Police Capt. Daniel M. Spaulding are the other two finalists.

Neffinger said it would be difficult to bring O’Brien back to work because there is no light duty under his contract. O’Brien has been out on paid administrative leave since late last year. It could also be problematic to have O’Brien work with people who may be called upon to testify against him, according to the mayor.