On Jan. 1, the third member of the Portsmouth police department retires after the department was shaken by an inheritance scandal. The next day, the retired Manchester police chief, David Mara, takes over as interim chief for Stephen Dubois. Mara’s term will last six months as the city seeks a new head of the department.
Three officers, including Detective Aaron Goodwin, have left. Goodwin was fired after accepting a $2 million dollar inheritance from an elderly woman he befriended. Mara was introduced to some 50 residents at a City Hall gathering hosted by the police commission. Only two of the three commission members were there. John Golumb, who didn’t run for another term, was absent. Commissioner Brenna Cavanaugh, who has been outspoken in favor of more transparency in the department, says she believes Mara will raise police morale and the public’s perception of ethical behavior among officers.
For his part, Mara, who served as Manchester chief of police for seven years from 2008 to 2015, responded to resident questions about ethical behavior among officers and their supervisors.
Mara said people in the department should speak up if they see wrongdoing.