Newton Mayor Taps Retired Police Chief After MacDonald Resigns

NEWTON, MA — Some two weeks after Police Chief David MacDonald abruptly announced he was stepping down, the mayor announced she was appointing Newton Police Department Retired Police Chief Howard Mintz to fill the role of Interim Police Chief.

"Chief Mintz will begin work on July 13 and overlap with Chief MacDonald who will officially retire on July 17," the mayor confirmed in a statement.

READ the mayor's full statement: Newton Mayor Names Interim Police Chief

MacDonald has gave his resignation last month after 27 years as a Newton police officer. The sudden resignation came as a surprise to many in the community.

MacDonald, who is 56, gave his notice as the city prepares to "reimagine" Newton's police department amid a rekindled Civil Rights movement, according to the mayor's office he said his successor would be better off starting the work, rather than coming in halfway.

MacDonald's department recently faced criticism when an officer drew his weapon on a Black man walking down the street with his wife. The college athletic director said he was surrounded by multiple police and at least one officer drew his weapon. The police department apologized for that, saying a man wanted for murder was suspected of being in that same neighborhood. The suspect was also tall and Black and had facial hair.

The department under Mintz has also faced criticism.

In 2015, when Mintz was still chief, a Black Emerson professor disputed a Newton police officer's account of a speeding ticket, the ACLU got involved and later the ticket was vacated.

Previously: Newton Police Chief David MacDonald To Step Down

READ the mayor's full statement: Newton Mayor Names Interim Police Chief

Patch reporter Jenna Fisher can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna). Have a press release you'd like posted on the Patch? Here's how to post a press release, a column, event or opinion piece.