Fall River Mayor Coogan to announce interim police chief at press conference

On Tuesday, Fall River Mayor Paul Coogan will hold a press conference announcing the new interim police chief, Captain Kelly Furtado.

Captain Furtado has recently been the Special Operations Division Commander, a division that currently has 6 units consisting of Street Crimes, Housing, School Resource Officers, Environmental Police, Motor Vehicle and Harbor Patrol.

She is two months short of being a 37-year-veteran of the department.

Coogan announced late last month that he and Police Chief Paul Gauvin had reached a mutually agreed-upon path regarding Chief Gauvin’s return to his prior rank of Captain, where he will assume the Command of the Major Crimes Division, after Chief Gauvin expends all personal time.

The announcement came after the union reportedly issued a vote of no confidence.

Fall River has seen significant turnover at police chief in recent years.

Jessica Machado of Fall River Reporter reported that Former Chief Dan Dupere was appointed under former mayor Jasiel Correia but stepped down in 2020 after an investigation into him possibly drinking at a local bar during the work day.

Dupere was replaced by Chief Jeffrey Cardoza. Cardoza was on a brief medical leave and ultimately did not return to his role and eventually retired in December 2021. Gauvin replaced Cardoza.