Gloucester Opens Search for New Police Chief With $200K Salary

The City of Gloucester, Massachusetts, has posted a Chief of Police opening with a salary range of $200,000 to $220,000, launching a formal search to fill the position vacated when former Chief Edward G. Conley III retired earlier this year.

The Details

Applications for the position will be accepted through June 12, according to the job posting. The opening seeks a candidate with 15 years of experience or equivalent in municipal, state, federal, or military policing and at least five years in a progressively responsible law enforcement management role.

The city also expressed a preference for applicants who have completed a nationally recognized senior-level law enforcement command or executive training program, such as the FBI National Academy.

Gloucester is a historic coastal city in Essex County with a population of approximately 29,747 residents.

The position opened after former Chief Edward G. Conley III retired on February 28 following more than 30 years in law enforcement and seven years leading the Gloucester Police Department.

Assistant Chief Michael Williams has served as Acting Chief of Police since Conley's departure. According to a March 4 announcement from Mayor Paul Lundberg, Williams was appointed to steer the department while the city conducted its executive search.

Lundberg engaged MGT Impact Solutions to serve as a recruitment consultant for the process. Under city ordinance, the search includes forming a screening committee, which will be involved in evaluating applicants and holding a public meeting to discuss candidates.

Context

Conley, who announced his intention to retire in October 2025, left office after nearly a decade of service on Cape Ann. His departure triggered the city’s current executive search.

The use of an external recruitment consultant and a screening committee reflects a structured, publicly transparent approach to hiring for a department leadership role in a mid-sized Massachusetts municipality.

What's Next

With applications accepted through June 12, the screening committee will evaluate submissions before proceeding to a public meeting where candidates may be discussed. The timeline for an appointment has not been specified in the materials reviewed.