Town Manager Michael McCall said he will begin the search process for a permanent police chief at the end of the summer.
McCall pointed out that former Police Chief Ed Burman was acting chief of police for 18 months before he was named to his permanent position. Burman retired in December after a 32-year career in law enforcement. Including his time as acting police chief, Burman held the top leadership position for nearly four years.
McCall said he prefers to give Acting Police Chief Mark Hebert time to become familiar with the job. He said he is “very pleased” with Hebert’s performance and hopes that he applies, but an acting police chief does not automatically get promoted. By interviewing several potential candidates, McCall said he plans to hire the best candidate for the town.
According to McCall, the search process generally takes three to six months. He said it took five months when he hired Burman in 2023. The process begins with a request for proposals for a search firm, he said. The firm will be selected based on price and experience. McCall said the firm must have at least five years of experience searching for police chiefs and include a staff of former police chiefs who vet the candidates. The firm will assess the candidates and recommend the top candidates for McCall to interview.
The hiring process includes a panel of Wayland department heads who will interview the candidate to determine how he or she collaborates across town government. McCall chooses the final candidate with the Select Board’s ratification.
McCall said he is seeking qualifications similar to those required during the previous search. Candidates should have at least a 10-year law enforcement career, including at least five years in a supervisory role at the rank of lieutenant or higher. A master’s degree in criminal justice or public administration is preferred. McCall said he is also seeking someone who is a strategic thinker, proficient with modern technology, collaborative, and principled.
McCall said he is looking for someone who will stay in the position for “quite a few years,” since continuity is important.
The salary range is $139,000 to $182,000. He said he generally hires employees who fall into the mid-range.
Acting Chief Hebert is a 17-year veteran of the Wayland Police Department. He rose through the department ranks, serving as a dispatcher, patrol officer, detective, sergeant, and lieutenant. Hebert holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Criminal Justice and received the FBI-LEEDA Trilogy Award for leadership training. To earn the FBI-LEEDA Trilogy Award, officers must complete the Supervisor Leadership Institute, Command Leadership Institute, and Executive Leadership Institute.
Hebert was raised in Wayland and graduated from Wayland High School.
