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Deputy Police Chief Browne Appointed Next Chief

Burlington Police Department Deputy Chief Thomas Browne was officially appointed to be the department’s next Chief of Police at Monday’s Board of Selectmen meeting. 

The appointment was made by Town Administrator Paul Sagarino who said Browne will replace retiring Police Chief Michael Kent at the end of the fiscal current year on July 1. 

Sagarino said that Deputy Chief Browne, a lifelong Burlington resident, comes from a family dedicated to service. His three brothers all worked for the Burlington Fire Department with his oldest, Kevin Browne, recently retiring after 35 years. 

Browne graduated from Burlington High School in 1990 and received a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and a minor in Psychology from UMASS Lowell. He also holds a law degree. He started his Police career in New Hampshire, primarily with the Town of Hudson where he rose to the ranks of Sergeant prior to being appointed to the Burlington Police Department in 2001, where he has had a distinguished career. 

“It would be difficult for us to go through all of the different roles and responsibilities that Tom has held within the Department over the years,” Sagarino said. “He worked as a patrol officer and drug detective until being promoted to the position of Patrol Sergeant in 2004. As a sergeant he worked in the Traffic Division and again with the detectives, holding the position of department prosecutor an important position which manages the department’s relationship with the court system. In 2013 Tom was promoted to Lieutenant and was subsequently promoted to Deputy Chief in 2018.”

Sagarino also outlined some of Browne’s accomplishments with the department. He said he brought the department into compliance for its first ever Certification Award from the MA Police Accreditation Commission. He also designed the department’s current field training program and designed and started its Police Drug Unit. He was also responsible for moving the town away from the civil service hiring system, something Sagarino said is responsible for the recent high quality of new hires. 

Browne is also a certified instructor for the Massachusetts Police Training Committee and teaches Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure in the Haverhill, Lowell and Reading police academies.

After the appointment Browne thanked Sagarino and the board for their faith in him. 

“I’m truly humbled and realize the huge responsibility I have on my shoulders from day one,” he said. 

Browne also had praise for Chief Kent’s leadership of the department. 

“Eleven years ago he came to Burlington and took over an apartment that was still reeling from years of turmoil,” he said of the current chief. “He took the reins and injected a professionalism into this department that has survived the test of time. He sought to improve the operations and make us demand more of ourselves. He’s put Burlington PD into a position to succeed and it is my main objective to bring this department to an even higher height despite the fact that I’m well aware of the big shoes I have to fill.”

Browne also had a message to the men and women of the department. 

“To the members of the Burlington Police Department, both sworn and civilian, I’m proud to be the next chief of police and to work with all of you to continue to strive to make this department the absolute best municipal police force in all of Massachusetts,” he said. “I believe that we’ve already achieved that designation and this would not be possible if not for the great people and professional work that each of you does every single day.”

Chief Kent said he was happy to have the deputy chief named as his replacement. 

“I couldn’t be more pleased with this appointment,” he said. “Deputy Chief Browne has earned it, he’s one of the hardest workers I’ve seen in my years of policing. He’s also one of the smartest officers I’ve dealt with. I believe he’s the man to bring this department to the next level and I also think we’re going to have some big changes ahead in law enforcement and Tom is the man to do those changes.”

Finally, members of the board also said they were happy with this appointment. 

“30 years ago when you’d come into the barber shop I kind of knew this would happen,” Board Chair Joe Morandi said. “You were just that person, you had a drive that was beyond a lot of people I’ve ever met. I couldn’t be happier for you to become the next chief of police of the town you grew up in.”