Fall River Police Chief Kelly A. Furtado says she is stepping down as the city's top cop on June 1, 2026, capping more than 38 years with the department and a stormy final stretch in the public eye. In a message posted on the department's official Facebook page, Furtado announced her retirement from the chief's role but said she will remain a police officer after leaving the post.
In that statement, she accused some elected officials of throwing around words like "corruption" and "abuse of power" without any foundation, warning that such rhetoric risks eroding public trust in rank-and-file officers.
City Hall said Furtado left the department on Wednesday and will remain on leave until her retirement formally takes effect on June 1, with Deputy Chief J.T. Hoar running day-to-day operations in the meantime, according to The Boston Globe. The paper also noted that Furtado rose through the ranks over more than 38 years and became Fall River's first female police chief.
What Sparked The Controversy
Furtado's exit comes as the department faces scrutiny over a search warrant used to unmask the owner of an anonymous Facebook account that had posted critical comments about a Fall River officer. Local reporting by Fall River Reporter says the account, using the name "Timmothy James," was eventually linked to a Swansea police officer and that some posts referenced Detective Christopher Teves, who reporters say is Chief Furtado's son.
Mayor And City Leaders Respond
Mayor Paul Coogan publicly thanked Furtado for her long service and said he had planned to extend her contract, but expected the City Council would block any extension, according to WBSM. The city has already submitted a requisition to the state Civil Service Commission to launch a statewide search for a permanent replacement, while Council President Cliff A. Ponte has called for an independent review of how the controversial warrant was handled.
Oversight And Legal Questions
City officials told reporters they have referred parts of the matter to the Massachusetts Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission for review, The Boston Globe reports. Separate coverage has raised questions about the timing and handling of the warrant itself, including whether the return was filed within the seven-day window that state law requires, concerns detailed in reporting by Fall River Reporter.
What’s Next For The Department
Deputy Chief J.T. Hoar will continue to oversee operations while city officials work to finalize a plan for filling the chief's job before June 1. The Civil Service search is expected to identify a permanent replacement.
In her Facebook statement, Furtado wrote that she intends to remain a police officer even after leaving the chief's office, and the department's post above contains her full remarks.
Her departure closes a long chapter for Fall River policing while opening a new one that will test how the city handles oversight, public trust and a leadership transition under the spotlight. City officials say they expect to have a transition plan in place before June 1, according to WBSM.
