Fall River Police Chief announces retirement, Acting Chief of Police revealed

The Fall River Police Department has announced that their current chief is retiring.

As of Wednesday, J.T. Hoar is the acting Chief of the Fall River Police Department. Current Chief Kelly Furtado is on leave until June 1.

“This order is to inform all personnel that I will be on an extended leave effective immediately until my retirement on June 1, 2026.

During this period, Deputy Chief J.T. Hoar will serve as Acting Chief of Police and will assume all duties and responsibilities of the Office of the Chief.

All members are expected to continue their duties as assigned and follow the established chain of command. Any matters requiring the attention of the Chief’s Office should be directed to Acting Chief Hoar.”

Chief Furtado released the following statement through the department’s social media.

J.T. Hoar has been the Deputy Chief of Administration where he commands the Staff Services Division, which oversees the Communications/911 PSAP center, Records Unit, and the Jail/Holding Facility Unit. Before his promotion to Deputy Chief, Hoar held various positions within the Fall River PD, including Accreditation Manager, roles in the Training and Planning Division, Professional Standards, the Major Crimes Division, Special Operations, and Uniform Patrol. He also serves as a Staff Instructor at the MPTC Plymouth Police Academy.

Before becoming chief, Furtado, who is a 38-year veteran of FRPD, was a captain who had been the Special Operations Division Commander, a division that at the time had 6 units consisting of Street Crimes, Housing, School Resource Officers, Environmental Police, Motor Vehicle and Harbor Patrol. She worked her way through the department holding various other positions.

Furtado replaced Paul Gauvin after Mayor Paul Coogan announced that he and Gauvin had reached a mutually agreed-upon path regarding Gauvin’s return to his prior rank of Captain. Gauvin was later terminated after an investigation that garnered much attention.

Furtado’s one year contract was approved to be permanent chief in May after a 5-4 vote by the City Council. At the same meeting, the Council approved a home rule petition to make the police chief position based on civil service.

In March, Mayor Coogan announced he was extending Furtado stating that he did not need City Council approval.

The City Council announced recently that they will be conducting an investigation over a FRPD warrant that was issued concerning comments made by a fake Facebook profile.