UPDATED: Ashland Town Manager Appoints Lt. Briggs Acting Police Chief

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ASHLAND – Ashland Town Manager Michael Herbert announced he has has appointed Lt. Rich Briggs as Acting Police Chief, effective July 1.

Ashland Police Chief Vince Alfano announced he is retiring.

Lt. Briggs began his law enforcement career as a Northeastern University Police Officer and then as a Police Officer with the Town of Dover.

He has proudly served the Ashland community for approximately 20 years, beginning as a Permanent Intermittent (part-time) Police Officer in 2001.

Since that time, Lt. Briggs has held various roles in the department including Patrol Officer, School Resource Officer, Sergeant/Patrol Supervisor, and as Lieutenant/Executive Officer for the past 14 years.

He currently serves as the Commander of the Operations Division and as second-in-command of the Police Department, working alongside Chief Alfano assisting him with the day-to-day operations of the APD.

Lt. Briggs also serves as a member of FEMA’s Urban Search and Rescue Task Force where he’s paired with a K-9 specially trained to detect survivors buried deep in rubble and collapsed buildings.

For several years, he also commanded the Search and Rescue Division of the Metropolitan Law Enforcement Council’s (METROLEC) Special Tactics and Response Team.

A graduate of Framingham State University, Lt. Briggs holds Masters Degrees in Public Administration and Counseling Psychology.

“He’s a proven leader in the Ashland Police Department and comes to the Acting Chief’s position with the skills, knowledge and ability to succeed and move our department forward into the future. Please join us in congratulating and wishing Lt. Briggs well in his new role,” wrote Ashland Police on its social media today, June 23.

“I have the utmost confidence that the Ashland Police Department is in capable hands with this appointment,” said Herbert of Lt. Briggs.

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