Marianne LaBarge City Councilor | Ward 6 | Northampton, MA

WARD 6

         CITY COUNCILOR

MARIANNE LABARGE
Text Box: For Immediate Release- August 27, 2024 John Cartledge Named Northampton Police Chief NORTHAMPTON–Today, Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra officially appointed John Cartledge as the Chief of the Northampton Police Department, moving him from his interim role to permanent leadership of the department. John Cartledge, a Northampton native, has spent his entire career with the Northampton Police Department. Starting as a patrol officer in 1995, he has risen through the ranks and starting in August of 2015 served as Captain of Operations and then in 2019 moved to Captain of Administration before being named Interim Police Chief earlier this year. His deep roots in the community, combined with his dedication to modernizing and leading the department, have made him the ideal candidate to assume permanent leadership. "Northampton is incredibly fortunate to have someone of John Cartledge’s caliber and commitment leading our police department," said Mayor Sciarra. "John was born and raised in Northampton, and his lifelong dedication to this community is evident in every aspect of his work. He has been a key figure in building a forward-thinking, community-focused police department, and I have full confidence in his ability to guide our city forward in this critical role." During his tenure as Interim Police Chief, Cartledge has continued to advance the department’s goals of transparency, community engagement, and professional excellence. His leadership has been instrumental in ensuring that Northampton's police force remains a model of progressive policing, focused on serving the community with integrity and respect. Chief Cartledge shared, “It is a great honor to have been selected as the Chief of Police in my hometown. I look forward to further partnering with the community and continuing to lead our department with pride and transparency.” The appointment comes after a thorough and competitive selection process facilitated by Public Safety Consultants, LLC. Following the resignation of former Police Chief Jody Kasper, the city launched a national search for candidates. A seven-member Search Committee, composed of city officials, community leaders, and law enforcement experts, reviewed applications, conducted interviews, and assessed candidates through a rigorous evaluation process. Concurrent with this process, Interim Chief Cartledge received strong endorsements from various stakeholders, including Northampton’s police unions, the Western Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association, and Northampton residents. Mayor Sciarra will formally submit the appointment to the City Council for confirmation. A public Meet-and-Greet with Chief Cartledge is scheduled for September 11, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. at the Northampton Senior Center. Mayor Sciarra expressed her deepest gratitude to all the applicants, the members of the Search Committee, city staff, and everyone who provided input and support throughout the process. "We conducted a fair and thorough process to select our next Police Chief, and I am confident that John Cartledge will continue to serve Northampton with care and distinction," she said. For more information, contact the Mayor’s Office at 413-587-1249 or mayor@northamptonma.gov