The mayor of Holyoke, Massachusetts has appointed a new police chief who will be the first Latino to lead the department.
Police Capt. Manuel Febo, a Holyoke native who grew up in the city’s long-troubled Churchill Neighborhood, was named Tuesday by Mayor Alex Morse as the city’s next Chief of Police.
" It is an absolute honor to lead the Holyoke Police Department," Febo said.
Febo, 47, has been a Holyoke police officer for 23 years. He rose up through the ranks and became a captain in 2013. He’ll lead a department that has 105 officers.
"We all work great together," said Febo. "The men and women of the Holyoke Police Department are highly trained professionals and I look forward to being their leader. It is my honor."
During the seven-year tenure of Police Chief James Neiswanger, who is retiring, Holyoke saw a sharp drop in crime. Febo said he plans to continue the community policing model started by Chief Neiswanger, expand the department’s social media presence, and perhaps initiate a citizen-police academy.
" I am very happy with the direction the department has been going during the last seven years and I look forward to expanding on some of the efforts we have in place," said Febo.
Febo said he is proud to be the first Latino to lead the police department in Holyoke, a city of about 40,000 where half the residents are Latino.
" My father moved here from Puerto Rico at a very young age and worked really really hard his whole life, and he is very proud of me and I think the community is grateful," said Febo.
Morse, 29, said he has known Febo for 15 years. The two first met when Morse was a middle school student and Febo was the school resource officer.
"Manny is a stand up guy. He knows that policing is more than locking people up. He recognizes the power of positive personal interactions between officers and the public. He values people and their unique circumstances and realizes that the reward of being an officer isn’t making an arrest, but preventing an arrest,” said Morse at the announcement in City Hall.
Febo will be the city’s first chief to come from within the department in almost two decades. Morse said he decided to interview only the department’s four current captains and not look for an outsider.
"Many Febo's story as one who grew up in downtown Holyoke ,overcame obstacles, become a police officer, and move up the ranks, I think, set him apartment from the other captains," said Morse. "He represents what we want to see in policing in 2018 and I am confident he will get the job done in the coming years."
Neiswanger, who came from Manchester, Connecticut to Holyoke to become police chief in 2011, is well regarded for his community outreach and advocacy for the police department.
"I fully support the mayor's selection of Captain Febo for the next Chief of Police," said Neiswanger. "He is an excellent choice and I know he will do a wonderful job leading the men and women of the Holyoke Police Department."
Febo is set to be sworn in on July 20, 2018.
