EAST LONGMEADOW – The Police Department has a new sergeant. Patrolman Michael Sousa was promoted to sergeant – the position in which Police Chief Jeff Dalessio previously served before being named head of the department.

The Board of Selectmen unanimously promoted Sousa at its June 15 meeting, following an interview with the board and Dalessio. Sousa was the only candidate interviewed for the job.

Dalessio told Reminder Publications after the meeting he’s “very happy” about Sousa’s promotion and considers him a “good fit” for the department. Sousa was hired as a patrolman approximately five years ago.

He added another police sergeant position would be available July 1 to replace an officer who is set to retire. The department hopes to hire a new sergeant through a civil service exam, which is set to take place in October. Until then, the department would likely hire a sergeant in a provisional capacity. Sousa is not a provisional hire.

“We’re moving forward,” Dalessio explained. “The time is ticking on and we’ve got to act pretty quickly to make sure we fill the gaps."

He said four new patrolman need to be hired as well due to officers retiring, moving up through the ranks, and additional revenue approved to hire patrolmen.

Sousa, an Army reservist veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, said during his interview he was a staff sergeant for seven years and was in charge of up 20 people at a time.  

“Important traits are building teamwork,” he added. “It’s important in leadership not to just tell people what to do, but to get them to want to do it for themselves … If you’re just ordering people around it can become a corrosive environment.”

Selectman Kevin Manley asked Sousa why he should be promoted.

“I’ve done this for a while in various capacities, not necessarily East Longmeadow, but other jobs we’re I’ve been in leadership roles,” Sousa explained. “I had to be in leadership roles; I’ve done evaluations; I’ve conducted training … Having that experience over a long period of time, I think it makes me pretty well qualified to have this position.”

Board of Selectmen Chair Paul Federici asked Sousa to give an example of a past example of how he resolved conflict with a fellow officer in the past.

Sousa said he hasn’t encountered many problems in East Longmeadow, noting, “people seem to get along pretty well.”

He added, “I have had instances in other jobs, specifically in the military, where I’d been really butting heads with someone who was in charge of me. Something like that, you have to address it with them specifically away from other people [and] work out what the issues are before it becomes something bigger than it needs to be. You always have to maintain a level of professionalism in that circumstance.”

Selectman William Gorman asked Sousa to describe his current philosophy in terms of leadership style.

“In Iraq, I was a sergeant so I was in charge of three other people and our job was to mitigate civilian interference in military operations,” Sousa explained. “So, we went around and basically coordinated with locals to keep them off the battlefield as best we could so we could mitigate civilian causalities. So, in that capacity we had a lot of responsibility. We operated on a battalion level, so the area we operated in was probably about the size of Hampden County.”

He continued, “I think it’s important as a leader to build respect, build teamwork in a shift, to get people involved … To make a team or a shift as productive as it can, everyone needs to feel included.”

Manley asked Sousa why he wanted to be promoted to sergeant.

“Moving up from patrolman to sergeant is added responsibility, which I like,” Sousa explained. “I like to challenge myself and I think that’s the best way to do it here.”

Federici praised Sousa, noting, “we’re a fortunate town to have you on our force,” prior to the board’s vote. 

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