NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — A search committee process has recommended three finalists, including the city's current top officer, to become the police chief for the city of North Adams. 

 

Lt. Jason Wood, recently promoted as a permanent lieutenant, Wayland Det. Sgt. Jamie D. Berger and Ridgefield, Conn., Capt. Bryan N. Terzian will each have a chance to meet with community members next week. 

 

The public meetings will be part of a series of interviews and meetings with each finalist. The meetings are intended as an opportunity for residents to hear from the candidates as well as to ask questions and share concerns about the city's public safety. 

 

All three community forums will be held from 4:30 to 5:30 on the following dates:

 

Mayor Thomas Bernard said recently that the city had received about 40 applications for the position, which was advertised nationally. After a preliminary screening, he extended invitations to the three candidates to interview.

 

The selected candidate will be the city's first permanent police chief in nearly 40 years — excepting the few months that Michael Cozzaglio, who has continued in an interim capacity, finally had the title. 

 

Cozzaglio retired in February after more than 32 years with the Police Department and the last 15 as police director, the position created under the city's former Public Safety structure. One of the last acts of the City Council in 2018 was to restore the titles of police and fire chief; it is currently reviewing updates to the public safety ordinances to reflect those changes.

 

"The police chief is one of the most visible leaders in the community, and it's important that members of our community have the opportunity to meet and hear from the individuals being considered for this important leadership position,"  Bernard said in a statement. "I look forward to introducing our finalists to the residents of North Adams as the members of the search committee and I continue to get to know them. 

 

"I'm also incredibly grateful to the members of the search committee who volunteered their time to review applications and interview candidates. Their dedication and insight has been incredibly helpful in ensuring we have a strong group of candidates to consider."