HAMPDEN – Hampden Police Chief Jeffrey Farnsworth is leaving his position with the town to pursue a role in state government as the senior policy advisor to secretary of public safety. The position, which falls under the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS), is in line with Farnsworth’s 34-year long career as a civil servant in law enforcement.

Farnsworth told Reminder Publishing that he decided now was the time to move on from Hampden because, “the department is running very smoothly. It’s in a good position.” He oversaw the updating of policies and procedures that will allow the department to be accredited once the pandemic ends. Also completed under his watch was the acquisition of a new emergency radio system.

Another reason Farnsworth cited for his departure is that the police chief position is “highly underpaid.” With a recently completed audit of the job descriptions and compensation within the town government, he said his was “the only position in town” not reevaluated.

Farnsworth had thrown his hat in the ring for the top police job in East Longmeadow and “word got out that I was looking,” Farnsworth said. After that, he was contacted about the position with the state.

Originally scheduled to leave the Hampden Police Department on Jan. 15, Farnsworth agreed to stay on until Jan. 20 to allow for a week of overlap with the newly-named interim Police Chief Richard A. Marchese to allow for a smoother transition.

The chief, who has worked in Hampden since 1992, said that the thing he will miss most about Hampden is the townspeople and the camaraderie he feels with them.