Rochester's Board of Selectmen announced on November 27 that they'll begin a search for the town's next police chief by looking in-house.

Long-time police chief Paul Magee announced earlier in the year that he would retire in September of 2018, and the town is beginning the process of hiring a new chief.

Town Administrator Suzanne Szyndlar and Magee announced their intention of posting the job vacancy in-house first, to take advantage of talent already in Rochester's police force.

"After two weeks, a committee will review the applications submitted, and then they'll decide whether to move forward with those applications or to post the job vacancy to outside sources," Szyndlar explained.

Selectman Brad Morse explained that the review board in question falls under the jurisdiction of the Board of Selectmen. "We can create a new review committee for the police chief and oversee it," he explained, "or the Board of Selectmen can review the applications themselves."

When Magee was hired as Rochester's police chief in 2003, the members of the Board of Selectmen served as the applicant review panel. Morse and fellow selectmen Naida Parker and Woody Hartley were amenable to continuing the  tradition.

Szyndlar also had other potentially helpful possibilities in mind.

She offered up the name of Matt Clancy, Duxbury's Police Chief. Clancy was named Duxbury's Police Chief in 2010; he and his family reside in Rochester. "I think he'd be a good addition to the committee, if he's interested in helping out," she explained.

"So would Chief Magee, if he's willing," Hartley pointed out.

"I'm willing to do whatever to Town Administrator needs," Magee told him.