EASTHAMPTON — A city native who has spent his entire 23-year career in law enforcement with the Easthampton Police Department was named police chief on Friday morning.

Lt. Chad Alexander, 41, will step into the chief role following Lt. Dennis Scribner, who has been serving as interim chief since former Police Chief Robert Alberti announced that he was stepping down from his post in July, citing personal health concerns.

Mayor Nicole LaChapelle announced Alexander’s appointment following private finalist interviews on Thursday. The other finalist for the position was Longmeadow Police Capt. Carl Mazzaferro.

Alexander said he looks forward to increasing the department’s community involvement, prioritizing traffic safety and ensuring the department goes above and beyond state policing standards.

Over 23 years ago, Alexander joined the Easthampton Police Department as a dispatcher, a position he held for a year before going on to serve as an officer for almost 22 years. He was promoted to sergeant in 2017 and lieutenant in 2023.

In his lieutenant position, Alexander has also been serving as the department’s lieutenant of operations while additionally overseeing firearms licensing, the K-9 unit, the sex offender registry, public records requests and many of the department’s day-to-day operations.

Alexander told the Gazette that community engagement and community-oriented policing has always been of the utmost importance to him. Previously, he pioneered the department’s “Coffee With a Cop” program which was put on hold during the COVID-19 pandemic, and its “Cookout With a Cop” program which takes place each August.

“You’re going to see a lot more involvement in the community,” Alexander promised ahead of stepping into his new leadership role. “We’re going to be a lot more involved in community service.”

Another goal Alexander has for the department under his leadership is prioritizing traffic safety in the city. He hopes to do so by hiring a permanent, full-time traffic officer to protect vehicle operators, pedestrians and bicyclists alike.

He also said that at the “top of the list” of his priorities is pursuing certification and accreditation through the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission. He explained that these serve as a vetting process for the department that highlights its compliance with state policing and departmental standards, showing that they are up-to-date with police reforms and operational efficiency. Alexander plans to receive accreditation status for the department, which he said requires compliance with more than 100 more standards than certification status, proving that the department “excels.”

Though Alexander is stepping into a coveted role in Easthampton’s police force, he said that community relationships remain at the top of his mind.

“The big thing with policing in Easthampton is the personal touch. I’m a member of the community, just like they are,” he said. “I don’t want to be called chief, I want to be called Chad.”

In announcing Alexander’s selection for the position, LaChapelle stated that his dedication to the community made him stand out as the ideal candidate.

“Chad Alexander’s deep roots in Easthampton and long-standing commitment to public safety make him the right leader at the right time,” LaChapelle wrote. “His integrity, compassion, and professionalism stood out throughout the process. I am confident that under his leadership, the department will continue to evolve and strengthen its relationship with the community.”

While Alexander was an internal candidate for the position, the city has stated that it did not undergo an internal search process, instead opting for an open search process for both internal and external candidates.

Easthampton’s police chief search was facilitated by the contracted consultant group Public Safety Consultants. Alexander’s official assumption of this new position will take place after the City Council confirms the mayor’s selection, likely at a meeting in late May or early June.

Alexa Lewis can be reached at alewis@gazettenet.com.