FALLON CHOSEN AS NEW POLICE CHIEF BY MAYOR

SOMERVILLE –David Fallon, current Somerville Police Deputy Chief of
Operations, has accepted an offer from Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone to
become the City’s new Chief of Police. Mayor Curtatone will formally
request the confirmation of Fallon’s appointment at the next regular
Board of Aldermen meeting on Thursday, Aug. 28.
Born and raised in Somerville, Fallon joined the Somerville Police
Department in 1998 as a patrolman. A graduate of Somerville High
School whose parents still live in the city, Fallon rose through the
ranks to sergeant, lieutenant, captain, and eventually deputy chief.
He has also served in the U.S. Air Force, retiring at the rank of
master sergeant, and holds a master’s degree in criminal justice
from Western New England College, a bachelor’s degree in exercise
physiology from University of Massachusetts-Boston, and an associate
degree in applied science from Community College of the Air Force.
Fallon’s accomplishments in Somerville include the implementation of
the Police Department’s Smart Policing Grant, which reduces crime
and repeat offenders by using data analysis to inform an
evidence-based and problem-oriented policing model. The program is
part of the only regional smart policing initiative in the country,
in partnership with Cambridge and Everett. He also led the
Somerville Police Department’s pilot of one of the first juvenile
jail diversion programs in the country, in conjunction with the
Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office, steering juvenile
offenders away from the criminal justice system and towards lives of
achievement and opportunity, which likewise reduces repeat
offenders.
Fallon led the effort to develop a regional crisis intervention
team, resulting in a new center in Somerville that trains police
officers from Somerville and neighboring communities on how to
respond to individuals with mental health and substance abuse
issues, helping improve outcomes for people in the criminal justice
system primarily because of behavioral issues and cognitive
limitations. As East District Commander for two-and-a-half years,
Fallon oversaw a 15 percent decrease in part one crimes—aggravated
assault, rape, murder, robbery, arson, burglary, larceny-theft and
motor vehicle theft—compared to the two-and-a-half years preceding
his tenure as commander. Fallon’s last 12 months as East District
Commander saw a 27 percent decline in robberies, a 37 percent
decline in car breaks and a 38 percent decline in car thefts.
“David Fallon exemplifies what we want in the Somerville Police
Department—dedication to this city and its residents, a desire to
find ways to reduce crime that go beyond arrests and convictions, a
commitment to evidence-based decision making, and a spirit of
collaboration,” said Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone. “We had excellent
candidates for our new Chief of Police, and I want to thank our
finalists, everyone who applied for the position, and the tremendous
work of the Police Chief Search Committee. I am extremely pleased to
recommend David to the Board of Aldermen as the next leader of the
Somerville Police Department.”
“I feel that I’ve been given a great opportunity by the City to work
with the men and women of the Somerville Police Department and make
it a national model for community policing,” said Fallon. “Our
department has made great strides in the past, and we’re going to
continue making strides, working collaboratively with the community,
other City departments and organizations, and each officer to keep
Somerville a safe and thriving city.”
“The Somerville Police Department has evolved into a model of
community policing, where law enforcement proactively works with the
community to yield positive outcomes instead of acting solely in a
reactive, punitive way. David Fallon has been a big part of that
evolution,” said Alderman at-Large Jack Connolly, the Board of
Aldermen representative on the Police Chief Search Committee. “The
Search Committee put a lot of work into finding the best candidates
among those who applied, resulting in the right candidate to lead
our department further into the 21st century.”
“This was a thorough process with a great deal of diligence that
took place over a long period of time, which created a pool of
candidates that were highly qualified and resulted in the selection
of an officer with a substantial record of integrity and deep
commitment to the community and to excellence,” said Stanley
Pollock, Executive Director of the Center for Teen Empowerment.
“Dave will bring a great deal of imagination, energy to the
department’s connection to the community, and an amazing approach to
policing that is going to put Somerville on a whole new level. The
results for the city are going to be dynamic.”
The City selected Waters Consulting Group through a request for
proposals in December to assist in the search for a new police
chief. Working with the Police Chief Search Committee, Waters
Consulting representative Chuck Rohre interviewed City officials and
over 40 constituent group representatives, held a public hearing and
conducted a citywide survey that had more than 200 responses to
obtain input on the qualities and characteristics desired of the
next police chief. By the April deadline, 37 candidates applied for
the position, which the Search Committee narrowed down to four
initial finalists. A public hearing with the four finalists was held
on June 25, with the public submitting questions through the City
website and in writing at locations around the city. A team of City
officials led by the Mayor then interviewed each of the candidates
before narrowing the finalists down to two. Mayor Curtatone and a
team of officials conducted site visits on July 21 and 31 before
recommending Fallon for the position.
Former Somerville Police Chief Thomas Pasquarello announced in late
2013 that he would step down in order to care for a family member.
Charlie Femino has been serving as Acting Chief of Police since Dec.
1, 2013.