By Bill Gilman
Managing Editor
Police Chief Jeffrey Silva, who has led the Westwood Police Department through over a decade of modernization and professional accreditation, announced his upcoming retirement to the Select Board at its March 23 meeting .
Silva, who took the helm in May 2013, will conclude a law enforcement career that has spanned nearly 40 years. His departure marks the end of an era for a department he is credited with transforming from a civil service-based agency into a fully accredited, meritocratic organization.
"It has been the honor of my professional life to serve the residents of Westwood," Silva said in a statement. "I am immensely proud of the officers of this department, whose dedication to professional excellence and community-based policing has made Westwood one of the safest and most respected departments in the commonwealth."
Legacy of accreditation and reform
When Silva arrived in Westwood, after serving as a lieutenant and chief of detectives in New Bedford, he inherited a department with a strong foundation but traditional operations. Over the next 13 years, he spearheaded several major initiatives:
- Full State Accreditation: Under his leadership, the department achieved full accreditation from the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission (MPAC), a rigorous process that requires meeting hundreds of professional standards.
- Hiring Reforms: Silva successfully moved the department away from the state's civil service system to an independent hiring process, which he argued allowed for a more diverse and highly qualified pool of candidates.
- Transparency and Technology: He oversaw the implementation of body-worn cameras and updated use-of-force policies, including a "duty to intervene" requirement for all officers.
Select Board members praised Silva’s tenure, noting his focus on "procedural justice" and his ability to maintain high morale within the ranks.
Board members spoke of his integrity, commitment to excellence and having built “a culture of accountability.”
Silva’s path to the chief's office was marked by academic and professional achievement. A graduate of the FBI National Academy, he also holds a law degree and a master's degree in Spanish from Middlebury College.
Early in his career, Silva gained recognition for creating a Spanish language program for New Bedford police officers to improve safety and communication in the field. This commitment to bridge-building followed him to Westwood, where he frequently participated in community forums on racial justice and mental health response.
The Select Board is expected to outline a search process for Silva’s successor in the coming weeks. While the town has not yet named an interim chief, officials indicated they would look for a leader capable of maintaining the accreditation standards Silva established.
Silva’s official retirement date is set for later this year, allowing for a transition period as the town begins its search for its next top law enforcement officer.
