DIGHTON – Dighton Board of Selectmen Chairman Peter Caron, Town Administrator Michael Mullen, Jr., and Human Resources Coordinator Karin Brady are pleased to announce that Fairhaven Police Sgt. Timothy F. Souza has been named the finalist for consideration by the Board of Selectmen to become Dighton’s next Chief of Police.
The announcement of Sgt. Souza as the finalist follows an extensive professional hiring process approved by the Board of Selectmen in late November 2023 that included an independent assessment center, a preliminary interview, and the submission of written responses to more than a dozen essay questions.
The town received a total of 20 applicants submitted in advance of its early January application deadline.
“We are fortunate to have received widespread interest from a range of candidates with the goal of becoming Dighton’s Chief of Police,” said Town Administrator Mullen. “The process that led to announcing Sgt. Souza as the finalist was a serious, professional and qualifications-based process that was approached with the utmost respect, discretion, and responsibility.”
He added, “Not only is it important that Dighton’s next Chief of Police fit the culture of our close-knit Police Department and the broader community, but that they bring the kind of community-oriented leadership and vision that is expected from the town’s top law enforcement professional. Through the process to date, Sgt. Souza has consistently demonstrated a strong ability to lead the Department into the future.”
Sgt. Souza is a 27-year veteran of the Fairhaven Police Department. He has served as Sergeant for the last 17 years, including as the Department’s administrative sergeant with the responsibility of budget management, hiring, and related tasks.
From 2018 to 2022, Sgt. Souza served as commander of the Southeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council (SEMLEC) Operational Support Unit which included SWAT, Search and Rescue, the Marine Unit/Dive Team, and several other specialized units. He served for six years as the Fairhaven Police Department’s School Resource Officer (SRO) and is an active member of the Fairhaven and Acushnet communities, having coached youth sports for more than 10 years.
Sgt. Souza is a 1997 graduate of the Plymouth Police Academy and has completed Roger Williams University’s Command Supervisor Training, NASRO’s School Resource Officer training program, and Enhanced Incident Management Unified Command training by Texas A&M University. He holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Westfield State University.
Souza is scheduled to be interviewed by the Board of Selectmen at its next regular meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 28. Members of the Board of Selectmen will each have the opportunity to meet individually with him prior to the board considering his appointment.
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