New Chief In Town

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By Richard O'Neil 
Stonehill College News Blog Journalist 

EASTON - In October of 2018, then Stonehill college police chief Peter Carnes announced his retirement from the department after close to 10 years of service. 

In the past, whenever Stonehill PD has hired a new Chief of Police they have come from an external department.  Many of the full time campus police officers serving now are inexperienced in law enforcement outside of the college, which can make it difficult to hire within the department. However, this time around the search for a new police chief was much easier. 

David Wordell is a Massachusetts native and alumni of Stonehill college. He is the first campus police chief at Stonehill to be promoted internally. He began his career in law enforcement working for the Massachusetts State Police, where he served as a patrol officer for 29 years. 

Chief Wordell first got the idea of working as a campus police officer during his tenure with the State Police. While working as a state trooper out of the Dartmouth barracks, Wordell was assigned to a detail at University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. At this time, Umass Dartmouth was having issues with non-students coming onto the campus. After several incidents with knives were identified on and around the campus, the administration requested a state police presence on the campus during the weekends. Wordell considers this to be his first exposure to campus policing. He said he loved interacting with the students, and it was out of this time working near UMASS that made him consider switching to campus policing. 

Wordell Started his duty at Stonehill at the rank of sergeant. He believes that the biggest transition for him was from sergeant to lieutenant because at that time he was given more administrative duties, and was responsible for much of how the department was run. He feels as though his time working as a lieutenant made his transition into chief an easy one. After working as Lieutenant, Wordell spent five years working as a detective in the department before his promotion to chief of police. 
The new chief said that he thinks the most important aspect of a campus police department is the ability to engage in community policing. Community policing is the idea that a department can be more effective if their officers are visible in the community, but also active in the community as well. “Building trust between students, faculty, and officers is critical for our success,” said Wordell. At a time where much negative public attention is brought towards police officers, Chief Wordell feels that now more than ever it is important to engage in community policing.  

Wordell said that before Carnes came to Stonehill the department was a shell of what is is now. “There were no uniform regulations, no police cruisers, and the officers were unarmed.”  Wordell, who was close with Carnes, has told me his first project as chief is going to be revamping the operational manual for the department. He pulled out from his bookshelf a small folded booklet which he identified as the Stonehill college PD operational manual. He then pulled out a large three ring binder filled all the way, with the words Massachusetts State Police Operational Manualon it. Wordell stated that in order for the department to achieve national accreditation they would have to revamp the manual to resemble something more like the operational manual of an actual police department. 

Wordell is extremely humble in conversation. If asked, he will tell you that his promotion to chief of police was just a lucky break. 
“If I’m being honest, my whole career has been lucky.” Said Wordell. 

It can not be said for sure whether or not David Wordell is actually lucky for getting this promotion. However, his experience and expertise in law enforcement is undeniable. The students of stonehill college can rest assured knowing that their safety is in the hands of an experienced law enforcement professional. 

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