UPDATED, Feb. 3: An outpouring from the community, support from those on the police force the has led since 1999 as well overtures from the town manager were among the factors that led Fred Ryan to remain in Arlington.
Town Manager Adam Chapdelaine said in an email Monday, Feb. 2, “I made a market-competitive offer to the chief in December with an aim toward retaining his services. That offer remained on the table, and was a part of what allowed the chief to decide to remain in Arlington.”
The manager responded to questions from YourArlington aimed at letting the public know why the chief decided to turn down an offer to lead MBTA police, a story first reported by BostonGlobe.com reported.
Ryan, 51, has said his reasons are personal. Asked why he withdrew from the offer of the MBTA position, he told YourArlington: “The decision was a personal one.”
Asked the same question, Chapdelaine responded: “I think the chief is better suited to answer this question, but I believe that a combination of factors impacted his eventual decision.
“It is my sense that the outpouring of support from the Arlington community since his initial announcement, coupled with considerations regarding the impacts that the MBTA position would have on his overall quality of life made it eventually apparent that remaining in Arlington was the right choice for him.”
Asked whether factors beyond family considerations had kept him here — specifically, did members of his force encourage it? — the manager said, “I think people from both inside and outside the organization encouraged the chief to stay in Arlington, myself included.
“When I met with union leaders from the APD in January, it was clear to me that the chief’s leadership and management was appreciated by the APD staff.”
As to the market-compettive offer, Chapdelaine said, “We’ll be ironing the details and paperwork this week. It should be publicly available either by the end of this week or early next.”
Ryan was to take over as chief of the Transit Police Department on March 1. He would have assumed the posted vacated by Paul MacMillan in late October.
“I have decided to stay with Arlington PD,” Ryan told YourArington in an email Feb. 2. “Since news of my possible departure became public the support from the community has been overwhelming.”
Clarifying, he added that he will stay on as chief.
Kenneth Green, who has been acting chief since Nov. 1, will continue in that position until a replacement is found, Transit Police Lt. Richard Sullivan told The Globe.
When the chief’s expected departure was reeported in December, his MBTA agreement was described as for five years with a salary of $188,000, which is slightly more than MacMillan made and about $18,000 more than Ryan’s salary in Arlington.
“It is my understanding Chief Ryan, for personal reasons, has decided not to take the position as chief of police for the Transit Police Department,” Sullivan said in an email Sunday, Feb. 1. “That being said, rest assured the Transit Police Department will remain under the capable and very competent stewardship of Interim Chief Ken Green.”
MBTA spokesman Joe Pesaturo said general manager Beverly Scott will discuss the next steps in finding a new chief with the Department of Transportation board of directors.
Chapdelaine told selectmen in January that an interim chief could be named by the end of that month, but no announcement about that occurred.
In a news release Feb. 2, Chapdelaine wrote that “after discussions,” the chief, 51, had decided to remain here.
“I could not be more pleased that Chief Ryan has decided to remain in Arlington, Chapdelaine said in the release. “He is a highly sought-after leader, given all his accomplishments and bridge building in Arlington over the past 16 years. Arlington is very fortunate to be able to retain him.”
Ryan said in the release: “I am tremendously grateful for the opportunity offered to me by the Transit Police; however, after consulting with my family, I believe that what is best is for me is to remain with the Arlington Police Department. This will afford me the opportunity to finish what I have started in Arlington while remaining close to home.”
Ryan, an Arlington native, was previously a deputy police chief with the Concord Police Department.
In 2007, he was a candidate for chief in Cambridge, but job went to Robert Haas.
A celebration to wish Ryan goodbye had been set for Thursday, Feb. 5, at Town Hall, but that event has been canceled.
Jan. 14, 2015: In chief search, board backs recommendation to remove position from Civil Service
Dec. 12, 20914: Chief Ryan named to lead MBTA Police
This story was first published at 8:30 a.m. Monday, Feb. 2, 2015, and updated Feb. 3.
