Chatham Police Chief To Retire

CHATHAM – Chief of Police Michael Anderson will retire in July after four years leading the department.

 A 30-year law enforcement veteran, Anderson, 56, rose through the ranks of the Chatham department, which he said is now in the best shape it’s ever been in, both internally and in the community.

 “We’ve come a long way,” he said during an interview Monday.

 Under his tenure, the department has grown to 23 sworn officers and adopted technology and equipment at the leading edge of law enforcement. It was one of the first Cape departments to adopt the use of body cameras and will be seeking funding for updated radio equipment in the upcoming budget, he said. 

 “I think the department is now technologically and equipment-wise at the highest level,” he said.

 He said he is most proud of fostering a positive culture within the department, something he kept his eyes on over the years. In the past, the department was a “revolving door,” with staff often leaving after a short time. Now, many officers have been with the department for many years.

 The department’s reputation within the community has also improved. When he joined the department 30 years ago, Anderson said, the department had been roiled in a number of controversies and had been investigated by the state attorney general’s office.

 “We were not a well liked member of the community,” he said. That has changed, and today the department is “in a good spot in the community and internally,” he said. The success of the department, he added, “is what I’m most proud of.”

 That, and the fact that he’s reached his maximum benefits under the retirement system, makes it a good time to step down, he said.

 In an email, Town Manager Jill Goldsmith said Anderson has led the department “with professionalism and a deep sense of responsibility to both the public and the officers and staff he served alongside.” She noted his work with the regional MLK Action Team and said the chief has been a “trusted colleague and friend.”

 “Serving on my leadership team, he collaborated closely with me and with departments across the organization on a wide range of matters — not only police or public safety issues — always approaching the work with respect, thoughtfulness and the broader interests of the town in mind.”

 She said she plans to appoint a new chief from within the department’s existing ranks.

 Anderson, the town’s seventh police chief, took over the reins of the department from Chief Mark Pawlina in July 2022. He began as a patrolman in 1996 after working for three years as a dispatcher and reserve officer in Millbury and years as a Chatham summer officer.

 In his resignation letter to Goldsmith, Anderson expressed “profound gratitude and a sense of accomplishment” in his tenure. “Serving the community of Chatham has been the greatest privilege of my career,” he wrote, adding his appreciation for the “unwavering commitment of [the] men and women on our team to protect and serve our community with integrity, courage and compassion.”

 Anderson said the biggest challenge the department faces is the rapid increase in the use of artificial intelligence. Deepfakes and scams evolve so rapidly that it’s difficult to keep up with.

 “It’s going to be very difficult to ensure authenticity going forward,” he said. “I think that’s going to be a significant challenge.” 

Anderson, who lives in Harwich, said he has “some irons in the fire,” and with a daughter who is a sophomore at Monomoy Regional High School and another who is a college freshman, he’s not going anywhere and intends to be “100 percent” on the job until his retirement.

Being a police officer, and especially a chief, can be a 24-hour-a-day job, he said, and often takes time away from family. “I plan on focusing on being a better husband and parent,” he said. In the meantime, he thanked the department, town officials and residents for their support during his tenure.

 “We can’t do our job without support from the community,” he said. “Myself and my staff, we’re truly grateful.”

Anderson’s last day as chief will be July 22.