Newton has a new top cop. On Thursday, Timothy V. Cohoon was formally sworn in as police chief in a ceremony that filled the War Memorial Auditorium with honor guards, family, and the sound of bagpipes. Photos shared by the department show the Newton Police honor guard, the Newton Fire honor guard, and the Boston Police Gaelic Column Pipes & Drums lining the room as Mayor Marc Laredo and Cohoon’s family looked on. Cohoon, who succeeds former chief George McMains, steps into the role after a months-long selection process. The department credited photographer Mike Bozio for the images.
Photos Show Honor Guards And Pipes
The Newton Police Department used its Facebook page to give residents a front row seat at the ceremony. In the images, Rev. Joel Miller of the First Unitarian Universalist Society in Newton and community member Amy Sangiolo are among those visible in the crowd. The post also notes that the Boston Police Gaelic Column Pipes & Drums performed while the Newton Police and Newton Fire honor guards stood in formation, according to the department’s ceremony post.
From Braintree To Newton
Mayor Marc Laredo first announced Cohoon’s selection in mid-January, saying the former Braintree chief would succeed George McMains and highlighting his experience running a nearby department, as announced by the City of Newton. Cohoon had served in Braintree since 1996 and was that city’s police chief for the past three years, with his resignation there effective Feb. 11, as reported by WCVB. The City Council approved Cohoon on Feb. 17, he started work on Feb. 23, and his formal swearing-in followed on March 4 at the War Memorial Auditorium, according to Fig City News.
Chief Cohoon's Experience And Priorities
Local coverage and the city’s announcement point to Cohoon’s roughly 30 years in law enforcement, with an emphasis on building community trust and expanding co-response crisis-intervention and training programs. During the selection process, officials also highlighted his graduate criminal-justice degrees, executive leadership training, and work with regional teams and peer-support initiatives, as reported by the Newton Beacon.
What Residents Saw And What Comes Next
Before signing off on the hire, councilors pressed Cohoon on how he plans to tackle officer recruitment, handle encounters involving ICE, manage traffic enforcement, and respond to mental-health crises, according to Fig City News. For residents who want a closer look at the moment he officially took the reins, the department’s Facebook post includes the full set of Mike Bozio’s photos and can be viewed in the full ceremony gallery, according to the Newton Police Department.
