Edgartown selectmen appointed Officer David Rossi as chief of police at their meeting Monday, following the recommendation of interim chief Jack Collins. Det. Sgt. Chris Dolby was also promoted to the rank of lieutenant.

Town clerk Wanda Williams swears in Christopher Dolby as a lieutenant.

Mark Lovewell

Town clerk Wanda Williams swears in Christopher Dolby as a lieutenant.

Mark Lovewell

Chairman Michael Donaroma and selectman Art Smadbeck voted for the appointments with enthusiastic endorsements. Both officers were sworn in immediately following the vote.

West Tisbury police chief Daniel Rossi pinned the chief’s badge on his brother David in a ceremony capped by loud applause. Chief David Rossi then pinned the lieutenant’s badge on Detective Sergeant Dolby, which was also followed by applause.

“I’ve never been more confident in an appointment I’ve made, ever,” Mr. Donaroma said.

“I’ve known both for a very long time, and I just really couldn’t think of better hands to have Edgartown in, at this juncture,” Mr. Smadbeck said.

Selectman Margaret Serpa recused herself from the vote and all discussions about the appointments, because she is related to members of the department.

The appointments are subject to contract negotations for both officers. Chief Rossi replaced former chief Antone Bettencourt, who officially retired this month.

Applause from the audience, which included members of law enforcement community.

Mark Lovewell

Applause from the audience, which included members of law enforcement community.

Mark Lovewell

Chief Rossi paused, filled with emotion, at the beginning of a brief statement to the selectmen.

“You can’t have the chief crying on the first day,” he said. “I’m honored. You know me. We’ve raised children together. My community involvement, involvement with kids, T-ball, football, school committee involvement, I’ve learned things that I didn’t really think were going to apply. I’m a lucky guy.”

Mr. Collins, in evaluating the candidates for chief and the Edgartown police department, issued an 89-page report offering some wide ranging recommendations for the force, including that the department seek accreditation with the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission. Chief Rossi said that recommendation stood out to him.

“It’s nice we can all say we have a good police department,” he said. “But if we can get something with a national standard that says were good, we’re a police department that’s ready, a community that’s ready, I want to get to that point. I want the best for Edgartown. We deserve it.”

The proceedings took place in the selectmen’s meeting room before Island police chiefs, members of the Edgartown police department, and friends and relatives. There was a brief delay when most of the police officers walked out in response to a harshly critical statement about the selection process read by former Oak Bluffs police officer Warren Gosson. The officers returned to the meeting room for the swearing-in ceremony.