Former New Bedford police chief applies to relinquish Massachusetts police certification to make career change

A former Bristol County police chief is looking to relinquish his certification, but with good reason.

Paul Oliveira served as the Chief of Police for the New Bedford Police Department from June 2021 until his retirement on May 3, 2025.

He announced his retirement in February 2025, less than a year into a three-year contract extension, describing it as the “honor of a lifetime”

A lifelong New Bedford resident, Oliveira joined the department in 1992 as a uniform patrol officer at age 22. Over his 32-year career, he held nearly every major role in the department, including leadership in internal affairs and served as deputy chief starting in 2016 before his promotion to chief by Mayor Jon Mitchell.

It appears that Oliveira is making a career change and he will be using some of the skills he learned as an officer.

In paperwork released by the Massachusetts POST Commission, Oliveira has filed to voluntarily relinquish his police certification as he is in the process of applying for a private investigator license.

The POST Commission is currently undergoing an evaluation and decision process, and it is unclear when a final decision will be rendered.