GREENFIELD — Residents and public safety officials packed the John Zon Community Center Tuesday night, cheering as Police Chief Todd Dodge’s 6-year-old grandson Silas pinned a badge to his uniform.

The symbolic act, which followed a swearing-in ceremony and a series of speeches, marked Dodge’s official appointment as Greenfield’s permanent police chief. As opposed to launching a national search for a permanent chief, the mayor had opted to hire internally, putting Dodge on a probationary period.

Dodge, a Greenfield native, joined the Police Department in 1998 as a reserve officer before being promoted to a patrol officer and later climbing the department’s ranks to serve as a detective, motorcycle patrol officer, field training officer, bicycle patrol officer, special response team officer, sergeant, corporal and logistics lieutenant. He has served as acting chief since February.

In her remarks at Dodge’s pinning ceremony, Mayor Ginny Desorgher recognized his achievements since he took the helm at the department, mentioning the appointment of the first community liaison Maria Burge, an increased police presence downtown and the creation of a new downtown substation.

“Today, Chief Dodge brings a breath of fresh air to the city. He comes in with all kinds of wonderful ideas,” Desorgher said. “For all his ideas, Chief Dodge leads with enthusiasm and kindness. He’s the ultimate champion of the Greenfield Police Department and our city, always supporting his team and other departments with remarkable grace.”

City Council President John Bottomley, in a brief speech, noted the importance of collaboration in problem-solving and thanked Dodge for his communication with other city departments, as well as his willingness to work for the community at large. He also recalled his uncle John, a U.S. Marine and police officer, whom Bottomley said showed him honesty and integrity — two traits that Bottomley said Dodge embodies.

Lt. Christopher Greene, who served as the event’s master of ceremonies, outlined Dodge’s nearly three-decade career in law enforcement, referring to the chief as a source of stability that helped the Police Department gain steady footing during a time of turmoil.

Dodge’s appointment as acting chief in February followed the abrupt retirement of former Police Chief Robert Haigh Jr., who had faced public criticism the past few years in the wake of a 2022 verdict in Hampshire County Superior Court. The verdict found that Haigh and the Police Department racially discriminated against former Officer Patrick Buchanan, the department’s only Black officer at the time, when he was denied a promotion in 2014 and then again in 2020.

“Stability is part of what brings us here today. The Greenfield Police Department has been on a roller coaster for the past few years. … With this appointment we will now have a very strong base,” Greene said. “All gas, no brake — this is a common phrase you’ll hear in our department. You can expect our department to keep pushing forward as a police department that the community needs and deserves.”

In his closing speech, Dodge, 51, outlined the numerous changes in policing that occurred since he joined the force in the ’90s. He noted that just as police work has grown to provide more thorough mental health resources and prioritize quality service, he set out to continue to grow and improve the department.

Thanking his family, the Police Department, city leadership and the community, Dodge also expressed his passion for policing and for the city.

“We get nowhere by running and hiding from our problems and we will take steps to be inclusive and progressive. All should feel comfortable working here, and all should feel comfortable living here. … We will listen to you and work with you,” Dodge said. “This is what I always wanted to do ... I’ve seen people at their worst and I’ve offered help. I’ve seen people at their best and I’ve offered congratulations. I’ve watched them take their last breaths despite rescue attempts. I’ve watched as breath was returned to them because of rescue attempts. Police work is an emotional roller coaster ride, and I would choose this profession over and over again if I was to go back in time.”

Anthony Cammalleri can be reached at acammalleri@recorder.com or 413-930-4429.