Pittsfield Police Capt. Wynn Goes From Bars to Stars
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| Acting Chief Michael Wynn waves at last year's Pittsfield Fourth of July Parade. |
Michael Wynn, 38, has been leading the force for a year with the title "captain in charge."
"For the past 13 months, Chief Wynn has been a great asset and face to the Pittsfield Police Department," said Mayor James M. Ruberto, who made the appointment. "And I will continue to show my support of Chief Wynn every day."
The Pittsfield native stepped in to replace Police Chief Anthony Riello, who took a position with the Falmouth Police Department. Ruberto has named him acting chief to sidestep Civil Service requirements. The city placed the positions of police chief and fire chief back on the Civil Service rolls in 1991, which would require Ruberto to chose from the top three candidates applying for the job.
The mayor has said he's happy with both Wynn and acting Fire Chief James C. Sullivan, a deputy chief who replaced another acting chief, Stephen Duffy, who retired in 2006.
Wynn has been with the force for 13 years in various positions, rising from patrol officer to supervisor, and has trained with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency and the Marin Corps.
Last month, he was signing copies of his book "Rising Through the Ranks: Leadership Tools and Techniques for Law Enforcement" at Chapters Bookstore on North Street.
"I totally support the mayor's decision to appoint Captain Wynn to acting chief," said City Council President Gerald Lee. "Captain Wynn has done an outstanding job and is well deserving of the appointment."
Wynn graduated from Taconic High School in 1988 and earned his bachelor's degree from Williams College and his master's degree in criminal justice from Anna Maria College in Paxton. He has been married seven years and has two stepchildren and two stepgrandchildren.
