CANTON — The Canton Select Board is pleased to announce that Joseph Perkins has been appointed as Interim Police Chief of the Canton Police Department.
Perkins, the former Chief of Police for the Middleborough Police Department, was appointed unanimously, 4-0, by the Select Board on Tuesday night.
Perkins succeeds Chief Helena Rafferty, who will retire from the department upon the expiration of her contract on June 30.
Perkins retired from the Middleborough Police Department last September after a 35-year career in law enforcement.
“Joseph Perkins has demonstrated — over the course of a long and well-regarded career in law enforcement — both the competence and the steadiness required to lead with clarity and purpose,” said Select Board Chair John McCourt. “As interim chief, he has expressed a clear commitment to open lines of communication, both within the department and with the residents of Canton. We believe his leadership will provide stability and thoughtful direction during this important period.”
Perkins began his career as a provisional police officer in Middleborough in 1989, then joined the Mattapoisett Police Department full-time in 1990. From 1994 to 1999, he served as a police officer, then acting sergeant for the Lakeville Police Department. Perkins rejoined the Middleborough Police Department as an officer in January 2000. He became a detective in 2001 and was promoted to detective sergeant in 2009. Perkins was promoted to lieutenant in 2014 and served as head of the detective division until he was selected as the chief later that year.
Perkins served as control chief and was a co-founding member of the Southeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council Critical Incident Stress Management and Peer Support Unit. The peer-driven, clinically supported law enforcement unit is brought in post-incident to debrief police officers. It is police officers helping police officers navigate the emotional aftermath of a traumatic event based on personal experience and specialized training.
During his time as Middleborough chief, Perkins also served as president of the Plymouth County Chiefs of Police in 2021, a member of the Chiefs Advisory Committee for Plymouth County Outreach, an executive board member for the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police and president and an executive board member for the Southeastern Massachusetts Chiefs of Police.
Perkins graduated from the FBI National Academy as part of Class 242 in 2010. His course of study included public speaking, conflict resolution, leadership, ethics and interpersonal communications.
The Town of Canton is currently searching for a firm to lead a nationwide search for a new permanent police chief. The Select Board anticipates that the process will take approximately six months and will incorporate community input.
“We are very fortunate to have found someone of Chief Perkins’ caliber to step into this role at a pivotal time for the department,” said Town Administrator Charles Doody. “He is a highly respected law enforcement professional, known for his sound judgment and steady leadership. Chief Perkins comes to us with strong recommendations and a clear understanding of what is needed to guide and manage the department effectively in the months ahead. His presence will allow us to move forward with confidence as we undertake the careful process of selecting a permanent police chief.”
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