Police Chief James F. Curran Contemplates Retirement-October 6, 1980

Consideration Comes Amidst Succession Debates and Legal Clash Over Appointment Power

For the first time, Norwood Police Chief James F. Curran has publicly acknowledged that he is “thinking of retirement.”

While rumors have swirled across town for months, Curran stopped short of making an official announcement. He noted that he is less than six months short of accumulating the 31.5 years of service required for maximum retirement benefits, citing ongoing health battles with hypertension and arthritis in recent years.

A Look Back at Curran’s Tenure

Chief Curran’s potential departure brings to the forefront longstanding debates over the leadership style required for Norwood’s police department—specifically whether the town needs a “strong” or “weak” chief.

Curran has frequently faced criticism from selectmen and other observers for lacking a heavy-handed management style. Critics point to his easy-going, friendly demeanor and the fact that he is a local “townie” who grew up alongside many of his senior officers, making him vulnerable to political interference.

Appointed chief in February 1974 following months of fierce debate over whether to hire an “outsider” or establish a “superchief,” Curran succeeded the late James M. Murphy, who passed away in 1973. A lifelong Norwood resident, Curran joined the force in 1954 as a special police officer and spent 10 years serving as a prosecuting officer in Dedham District Court.

The Legal Battle Over Who Appoints the Successor

Before any successor can be named, the town faces a thorny legal question: Who holds the legal authority to appoint the police chief—the Board of Selectmen or the Town Manager?

While historical precedent points to the selectmen appointing past police chiefs, Norwood’s town charter designates the Town Manager as the administrative head of the police department, granting him hiring and disciplinary oversight. Furthermore, a conflicting 1908 town bylaw stipulates that the selectmen should make the appointment.

Town Counsel Justin C. Barton and municipal officials agree that the legal provisions governing the appointment are remarkably unclear. Town Manager John J. Carroll, regarded as a strong administrator, declined to take an explicit position on the controversy. “I am not going to take any position until I am asked to,” Carroll stated. During his two-year tenure, Carroll has hired and promoted all police officers and handled administrative complaints, operating firmly within his charter authority.

The Push for Chapter 41, Section 97A

The appointment debate was brought to a boil a few weeks ago when Selectman John F. Kinnaly advocated that Norwood adopt Chapter 41, Section 97A of the Massachusetts General Laws—the state’s “strong police chief” law.

Adopting Section 97A would fundamentally restructure local law enforcement by:

• Eliminating the town manager as the police administrator and granting the chief sole operational responsibility for running the department.
• Retaining hiring and firing power for the selectmen, while barring elected officials from interfering in day-to-day police affairs.
• Protecting the chief from arbitrary termination, requiring a formal public hearing rather than a simple majority vote by selectmen. (“Right now, all it takes is three votes and you’re out the door,” Curran noted in support of the change).

“I think there would be less political interference under 97A. Elected officials would be more responsible [than an appointed town manager] so that we have a strong, effective police department,” argued Kinnaly. Kinnaly plans to submit Section 97A to the next annual town meeting and seek a formal legal opinion from town counsel.

Speculation on Potential Successors

Kinnaly also confirmed circulating rumors regarding a preferred candidate for the chief’s badge: Richard W. Krant, 55, a Sherwood Drive neighbor and, like Kinnaly, a former FBI agent. Krant currently serves as chief investigator for the Special Commission on State and County Buildings, investigating public construction scandals, after logging 26.5 years with the FBI. Contacted for comment, Krant stated he was unaware his name was being circulated and declined to discuss potential interest.

Meanwhile, Police Union President Gerald Mahoney strongly opposed adopting Section 97A, warning it would invite undue political interference from selectmen. Citing past instances where selectmen allegedly demanded special police protection for politically connected individuals, Mahoney declared, “From my experience dealing with the town manager and the selectmen, I would have more confidence in Carroll making the appointment.” Mahoney suggested that Town Manager Carroll would be more likely to look outside the town for leadership, mirroring past administrative hires.

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger