From left, Marion Police Chief Richard B. Nighelli, who was sworn in as the President of the Southeastern Massachusetts Police Chiefs Association on Wednesday, Plymouth Police Chief Dana A. Flynn (1st Vice President), Rochester Police Chief Michael Assad Jr. (2nd Vice President) and Dighton Police Chief George L. Nichols Jr. (Sergeant at Arms). (Photo Courtesy Southeastern Massachusetts Police Chiefs Association)
MARION — Chief Richard B. Nighelli was sworn in Wednesday as the President of the Southeastern Massachusetts Police Chiefs Association (SMPCA).
Chief Nighelli, who served last year as the Association’s Sergeant at Arms, now takes the helm for 2026, succeeding Aquinnah Police Chief Randhi Belain.
He was sworn in Wednesday morning by Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz during the January Regular Meeting of the SMPCA.
The Association represents police chiefs from communities across southeastern Massachusetts and provides a forum for leadership development, professional standards, policy discussion and regional collaboration.
Chief Nighelli has served the Town of Marion since 2003, when he joined the department as a patrol officer after beginning his career with the Nantucket Police Department in 2002.
He was promoted to Sergeant in 2007, Lieutenant in 2018 and was appointed Chief of Police in January 2021.
“I am grateful for the trust placed in me by my fellow Chiefs,” said Chief Nighelli. “Police chiefs do not lead in isolation. While we serve different communities, we face many of the same challenges. This Association gives us a unified voice and the opportunity to share information, discuss best practices and learn from one another about what is working and what is not. That exchange strengthens our departments and, most importantly, benefits the communities we serve.”
Chief Nighelli holds a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice from Western New England University. From 2004 to 2019, he served as a member of the Southeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council (SEMLEC) SWAT Team, deploying to numerous critical incidents, including the response to the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings.
In addition to his role with the Marion Police Department, Chief Nighelli serves as the Town’s Emergency Management Director. He is a member of the Police Assisted Addiction & Recovery Initiative (PAARI) Public Safety Council and the Executive Board of the Plymouth County Outreach program. In 2025, he served as President of the Plymouth County Chiefs of Police Association.
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