FALL RIVER MASSACHUSETTS, Fall River Police Chief Kelly Furtado’s contract is set to expire in less than three months, and questions remain about whether a formal process has begun to determine the department’s next leader.
The Fall River City Council voted 5-4 on May 13, 2025, to appoint then-Interim Police Chief Kelly Furtado as the permanent chief of the Fall River Police Department following a request from Mayor Paul Coogan. The decision came after the police union issued a vote of no confidence in her predecessor, Paul Gauvin.
Furtado became the first woman to serve as police chief in the city’s history. Her one-year contract increased her salary from approximately $155,000 to $190,000 as interim chief and to $215,000 upon confirmation as permanent chief.
As part of the broader agreement, the City Council approved a home rule petition transitioning the police chief position to civil service status. The change was later approved by the state legislature and signed into law by Governor Maura Healey on January 29, 2026.
In late February, Mayor Coogan indicated that no final decision had been made regarding whether Furtado would be nominated again or whether another candidate would be considered. With the role now classified under civil service, the qualifications and selection process may differ from the previous appointment.
Some observers have noted that certain municipalities, such as New Bedford, require specific educational qualifications under civil service guidelines. Questions have been raised about how Fall River will structure its standards under the updated system.
Fall River has experienced frequent leadership turnover within its police department over the past decade. Daniel Racine served until his retirement in 2017, followed by Albert Dupere, who resigned in 2020. Jeffrey Cardoza was appointed in June 2020 and retired in early 2022. Paul Gauvin began serving in an interim capacity in December 2021, was formalized in May 2022, and later stepped down in September 2024 before being formally terminated in April 2025. Furtado was appointed interim chief in October 2024 and confirmed as permanent chief in May 2025.
City officials have not publicly outlined a timeline for the next steps in the selection process. Questions remain regarding whether the current chief intends to seek reappointment, whether the mayor will nominate her for another term, or whether the city will conduct an internal or external search.
As the contract deadline approaches, residents and members of the department are awaiting clarification on the path forward. Officials have indicated that additional information will be shared as decisions are made regarding the future leadership of the Fall River Police Department.
