CONWAY — With its chief of 33 years set to retire this summer, Conway has offered Whately Police Sgt. Donald Bates the job, pending salary and contract negotiations.

Bates, 50, was the lone finalist for the chief position and was interviewed by the Selectboard on Monday, with the board looking to swiftly find retiring Police Chief Ken Ouimette’s successor before the end of the fiscal year.

Bates has 14 years of experience working as a reserve officer in Conway and has spent 23 years serving Whately. He also serves on the county’s crisis negotiation team.

After answering questions about his background, his style of policing and how he intends to handle the difficult financial challenges presented by police reform measures, the board voted unanimously to offer the veteran officer the role, pending contract negotiations, which should be finished within the next week or two.

“It means a lot,” Bates said outside the meeting. “It’s definitely going to be a challenging endeavor with police reform, but we’ll go with the punches.”

Ouimette is retiring in June after serving 33 years as Conway’s police chief and 42 total on the force. He told the Selectboard in December “it’s time” for him to step down.

A Whately resident, Bates has numerous connections to his potential new role, as he grew up in Ashfield and his children attended Conway Grammar School. He’s also spent 14 years working under Ouimette, who he said he holds a lot of respect for.

“I like the way Kenny polices. … He’s very down-to-earth, he’s very community-oriented. That’s the way I like to police,” Bates said. “My ideals are what a small town has. … You can go to someone’s house when you want to talk to them and I want to keep that tradition of what Kenny has.”

Selectboard Chair Philip Kantor said numerous residents have approached him over the last few weeks to say they trust in Bates’ ability to excel as police chief.

“You are really held in high regard in this town,” Kantor told Bates.

Bates said he is planning to have conversations with the Selectboard about police hiring and retention in the wake of 2020’s police reform measures, which require all part-time officers — the vast majority of small towns’ police forces — to undertake additional training that costs thousands of dollars.

“As far as recruiting others, I don’t exactly know right now because it’s so hard for everybody,” Bates said. “If I’m appointed as chief, there will be a discussion. … From there, we’ll develop a plan.”

The Selectboard considered formally offering Bates the job after it entered executive session Monday evening, but opted to discuss compensation and then have Bates return at a future meeting to negotiate and accept the role.

“We’re going to leave you hanging for one more week,” Selectboard member Erica Goleman said. “Provisionally, welcome to Conway.”

Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder.com or 413-930-4081.

]]>