Bradley Cortez moved to the Vineyard during his senior year of high school and he immediately felt at home.

“Going to school here as a senior in high school, people care about you, the teachers care about you, the community cares about you,” he said. “From there, I knew I needed to grow some roots on Martha’s Vineyard.”

Those roots recently blossomed as Mr. Cortez was named chief of police for West Tisbury, taking over from retiring chief Matt Mincone. He will be sworn in on Sept. 4.

Mr. Mincone has worked with Mr. Cortez for over a decade and said he has full confidence in Mr. Cortez leading the force.

“He’s electric,” Mr. Mincone said. “He brightens every situation and constantly has a positive attitude. He’s a breath of fresh air.”

Mr. Cortez’s path to the police force began after he graduated from Martha's Vineyard Regional High School when he joined the army. He did two tours in Afghanistan before deciding he wanted to shift to police work, inspired by officers he encountered as a child.

After graduating from the Worcester Police Academy in 2014, Mr. Cortez started with the West Tisbury police department.

Tim Johnson

After graduating from the Worcester Police Academy in 2014, Mr. Cortez started with the West Tisbury police department.

Tim Johnson

“As a kid, my football coaches and my baseball coaches were always police officers, and I was like, this guy is such a good guy. He’s a great man. Found out he’s a cop. He helps the community,” Mr. Cortez said. “I was like, I want to be a police officer.”

After graduating from the Worcester Police Academy in 2014, he signed on with the West Tisbury police department, where he has long been a familiar face around town. He said leading by example is key.

“You show up at the right place, right time, right uniform, that’s half the battle,” he said.

He wants to continue emphasizing to the community that the police department is here to support everyone. Mr. Cortez’s wife is Brazilian and the Island’s immigrant population is close to his heart.

“Immigrants here, living on Martha’s Vineyard, need to know that they are supported,” he said. “We’re here to help, and we have professional officers willing to give you the best advice that they possibly can to help you in your path for safety or information.”

In his interview with the town, Mr. Cortez spoke about the importance of police officers being approachable in the community.

“I’ve had a motto for a while now, when in town, roll them down. When you’re going through town, you put the windows down,” he said during the interview. “It’s as simple as a wave. You yell hi to somebody, whether you’re going through the parking lot at Conroy’s, Alley’s or Cronig’s. It’s just a simple interaction, [it] just goes a long way. That’s the heart of community policing.”

Mr. Mincone said Mr. Cortez has always embodied this ideal.

“He is the definition of it. He always has been. He’s very approachable for everybody,” Mr. Mincone said. “He’s taught himself, through his wife, Brazilian Portuguese. He’s been such a valuable asset for everything.”

On the rare occasion that Mr. Cortez isn’t on duty or chatting with folks around town, he’s on the golf course or spending time with family and loved ones.

“I’m a homebody or I’m on the golf course,” he said. “I love yard work around my home. I’m obsessed with my home. I have my father in law, who has a green thumb, showing us the ropes on how to run a vegetable garden.”

Mr. Cortez said he is excited about the new opportunity and looks forward to deepening his bond with the town. He keeps a West Tisbury challenge coin close by, one he designed himself that spells out a motto he strives to achieve every day: protecting and maintaining the quality of life for all.

“People care. People see each other off duty. It’s tight knit. People help each other out and just go above and beyond,” he said.

Mr. Cortez will be sworn in as chief of police on Sept 4. at noon at the West Tisbury public safety building, where a retirement celebration will also be held for Mr. Mincone.