Westwood Select Board Interviews Three Finalists for Next Police Chief

WESTWOOD — July 17, 2026 — Westwood Select Board interviews three finalists for police chief, with a decision set for Monday night. Chair Marianne LeBlanc-Cummings and members Joe Prevatera and Aaron Sibley conducted one-hour interviews Friday morning with J. Nicholas Jamali, a lieutenant with the Duxbury Police Department; Russell O'Neill, deputy superintendent of the Brookline Police Department and active battalion commander in the Army National Guard; and Michael DeLala, Westwood's own lieutenant and acting chief who grew up in the town and has served the department for 15 years. Town Administrator Connor Reed described a three-stage vetting process yielding assessment center scores ranging from 84 to 91, with all three candidates unanimously recommended by a public safety panel. Each candidate addressed a common thread: a department survey showing a majority of personnel report positive morale, but a notable minority flagged concerns about communication and organizational culture. The board will deliberate and vote Monday, July 20, at 6 p.m. in a live-broadcast session, subject to contract negotiation with the selected candidate.