Q&A: Meet Dover's New Police Chief Peter McGowan

Q: How are you finding Dover so far?

Chief McGowan: “Very welcoming. I’ve had several people come in, several people call or just to drop in and introduce themselves and welcome me to town and offer their assistance, guidance and suggestions. So I’ve been very pleasantly surprised with the reception I’ve gotten.”

Q: What is the most challenging thing that you’ve had to deal with so far?

Chief McGowan: “I would say it’s difficult being the new guy and trying to acclimate myself to the Dover way. Whether it be the paperwork and how everything works or who everybody is and what their responsibilities are. Legitimately I’ve met 200 people and trying to keep who’s who straight and names and faces is probably the most daunting task that I’ve faced so far.”

Q: Having been chief of the Millis police how is a Chief McGowan station run?

Chief McGowan: “We definitely have an open door policy.  It’s a cooperative effort. We understand that police work in a small town is not always lights and sirens and the headline stuff. It’s more quality of life issues. I want to make sure that the citizens of Dover are safe and well protected and are able to use us as a resource for whatever they need help for."

Q: What, if any, changes are you going to make or have you made already?

Chief McGowan: “We had a department-wide meeting last Thursday and I outlined what my goals were and my initial expectations and a timeframe of what I was going to look at immediately and what I had for long-range goals. I’m in the process now of meeting with each officer individually to find out who they are, how they got to be where they are right now, and where they want to be in a few years and what I can do to help them get there.”

Q: Dover is a relatively quiet town compared to most. Is it a challenge to keep busy with not a lot of crime activity going on?

Chief McGowan: “The challenge is not so much staying busy. It’s not like we’re not busy it’s just that we’re not dealing with a high volume of felonies or other crimes. As I said it’s quality of life, we have a great interaction with the schools. I was able to meet with the superintendent and her staff last Friday and that went fantastic. It was good to see the open lines of communication and the spirit of cooperation between the police and the schools. I was invited to the senior volunteer luncheon so I met another 50 people there. With those partnerships and those collaborations in town it’s more than enough to do. It’s not a matter of people staying busy it’s a matter of staying focused. You want your police department to have a community policing philosophy but I also want them to be ready so that if an incident does happen they’re ready, they’re trained, they’re equipped and can handle whatever happens.”

Q: You were already the chief in Millis before this job, so why come to Dover?

Chief McGowan: “Dover is a once in a lifetime opportunity. The last two chiefs were here for a combined 40 years on the job. So obviously it’s a good job, it’s a prestigious job. It’s a community that supports their police department. Dover is well-run town, it’s a fiscally responsible town. It’s a great place to be and it’ll be a good fit.”

Q: How has the transition been so far?

 Chief McGowan: “Fantastic. Overwhelmed at first being the new guy and having to learn the procedures and how things are done was a little daunting and there’s a couple dozen things I’d like to get done. But looking at the big picture it’s a lot to get done but if you approach it one bite of the apple at a time we’ll get there. It’s just a matter of setting my priorities and working towards those goals that I’ve set for myself and the department.”

Q: What are some of those long-term goals?

Chief McGowan: “I’d like to update the department’s procedures and policies, rules and regulations. I’d like to make sure that every officer in the department has their certifications up to date and continue to keep that. I know there are some day-to-day operations that I need to understand a little bit better. And continue to weave myself into the fabric of the town so that I can become like the past two chiefs. They were a part of this town and that’s important to me. I want to be accepted, I want to be an integral part of the town government and a resource to the residents of Dover just like my predecessors.”

Q: Do you anticipate crime to pick up now that it’s summer time?

Chief McGowan: “I think crime is going to be more dictated by the economy and what’s going on around us. That’s an interesting question, I’m looking forward to finding out if summer is going to be a busier time. I think most crime in a town like this is a crime of opportunity. So if someone leaves their car doors open with their pocketbook on the front seat that opportunity is going to present itself to the wrong person so we've got to caution the residents to be aware and not make it too easy for people to take advantage.”