IPSWICH — Police Chief Paul Nikas was born in 1968 in the former Cable Hospital, grew up and went to school here, and then returned home after college to dedicate his life to a 32-year career in municipal policing.
This week he announced that he will retire at the end of the year, after more than 17 years as chief, and after overseeing significant transformations in municipal policing.
Chief Nikas’s godfather, Arthur Solomonides, spent 34 years as an Ipswich Police Officer, and the chief remembers seeing him in uniform during Christmas and holidays because he was often working those days.
When Chief Nikas graduated from Ipswich High School, those memories and his family’s belief in community service led him to Norwich University, where he joined the Corps of Cadets and studied Criminal Justice.
“Service to community was always part of my upbringing,” Chief Nikas said.
After college, Chief Nikas started his law enforcement career with the Massachusetts Trial Court, where he worked as a security officer. He joined the Essex County Sheriff’s Department in 1994.
Three years later, he went to work in his hometown for the Ipswich Police Department, where his brother Peter also worked. His first assignment was the overnight shift, midnight to 8 a.m.
He was promoted to Sergeant in 2003, and spent the next six years working as a shift commander on the overnight and evening shifts. He also served as Director of Training, ensuring new officers were ready for their roles and experienced staff had the most modern skills and knowledge possible.
He was promoted to Acting Chief in 2009 and became Chief permanently in 2010.
Chief Nikas began his career at a time when fewer people took an interest in what law enforcement was doing. He dedicated much of his career to increasing transparency among local police.
In 2017, Ipswich Police became the first department in Massachusetts to deploy body-worn cameras and cruiser dash cameras with every officer.
“It’s pretty much standard now, but we were the first ones to fully deploy that equipment to increase officer safety, transparency and accountability,” Chief Nikas said.
In 2020, the department embraced working with co-responding mental health clinicians and community organizations to provide resources and follow up to those in the community with mental health and substance use challenges.
“When I got started, you either cut someone a break, or you arrested them. There wasn’t much follow up. That just didn’t exist,” Chief Nikas said. “Right now, we have officers assigned to follow up with people and to work with partners to provide resources. I’m proud of the way the men and women of the Ipswich Police Department have really taken to policing with more of a focus on problem solving.”
Chief Nikas also credits the department with embracing their roles as members of a larger Ipswich community, while also maintaining a level of professionalism that allows them to respond to major incidents, like the town’s only homicide in over 40 years, which was successfully solved and prosecuted.
“My time has come,” Chief Nikas told the Select Board on Monday. “These past 17 years serving as chief and leading the Ipswich Police Department have been the greatest honor of my career.”
“I am deeply grateful to have worked alongside the dedicated men and women of the department, both past and present, whose professionalism and commitment to this community make me proud every day,” Chief Nikas said. “We accomplished amazing things together and I have great confidence in the future leadership of the department to keep Ipswich proud of its police force. I would like to thank the town’s leadership, community organizations and residents, who have supported the police department and worked with us to keep Ipswich a safe and welcoming place to live.”
Chief Nikas credits his family, and especially his wife Jessica, for their patience, strength and unwavering support throughout all the long hours and difficult challenges that a career in law enforcement brings.
“I am also grateful to my parents,” he said. “The person I am today is because of them and their values, guidance, and belief in always doing the right thing.”
“Your story is a story that you don’t see to often anymore — a local boy growing up, raising through the ranks, becoming chief in his hometown and then serving for so many years,” said Select Board Chair Michael S. Dougherty. “Your service and sacrifice to the community has not gone unnoticed. Thank you for all your years of service.”
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