Danvers Resident Named MA Environmental Police Colonel

DANVERS, MA — A Danvers resident has been named as the next Colonel of the Massachusetts Environmental Police.

Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper said John Monaghan succeeds Colonel Christopher Mason, who has served as Interim Colonel since September 2024.

MEP, an agency within EEA, is dedicated to protecting the environment and natural resources of Massachusetts through rigorous enforcement, comprehensive education, and proactive public outreach.

"John Monaghan's extensive experience and leadership are exactly what we need at MEP," Tepper said. "His innovative approach to law enforcement and his commitment to environmental protection will be pivotal for the department's success."

Monaghan brings over 25 years of law enforcement experience to his new role. Most recently, he served as a Post-Traumatic Growth Training Guide with the Boulder Crest Foundation's Masssachusetts team. He also trains with police departments nationally as a subject matter expert for SAFLEO Officer Wellness and Suicide Prevention.

Previously, Monaghan was a law enforcement consultant at the Center for Policing Equity in Denver, Colorado, served 10 years with the New Hampshire State Police, and spent eight years as Chief of Police in both the Franconia and Moultonborough, NH Police Departments.

Monaghan resides in Danvers with his wife and their dog, Fred.

"I am honored and excited to join an agency filled with dedicated professionals who work tirelessly to protect Massachusetts' natural resources and its people," said Monaghan. "Having come full circle from my studies at Sterling, a Natural Resource Management School, to interning with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and working with the U.S. Forest Service, I look forward to continuing and expanding MEP’s remarkable work in safeguarding our environment and promoting public safety."

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)