Head of Fall River’s largest division puts in for two-year paid leave, patrol officer resigns over morale issues

Note: Due to my recent reporting on Police Chief Kelly Furtado, the Fall River Police Department’s (FRPD) public information officers have cut off all communication with the Fall River Reporter. They’ve refused to comment on all inquiries since early May. I did reach out for a comment for this story, but they have refused to communicate.

Two reliable police sources have reported to me that the head of FRPD’s Uniform Division, Captain David Murphy, has called it quits due to a disagreement with senior leadership. The early retirement is a major blow to Fall River as Murphy is a well-liked and respected leader overseeing the largest and most visible segment of the FRPD, comprising over 110 officers, sergeants, and lieutenants organized into three 24/7 patrol watches. Murphy’s position has been filled, but it will remain double-billeted for two years as he serves out his accrued compensation time before retiring. Police officers on accrued compensation time remain in their position, receive pay, but do not report for duty.

Captain Murphy had a notable career with the FRPD, rising through the ranks and was considered a leading candidate for Chief, but my sources say he wasn’t interested. By 2016, he became a Sergeant and was sworn in as Captain in July 2022.

I’ve also received reports from my sources that Patrol Sergeant Kiel Huard, also of the Uniform Division, has recently resigned due to his frustration with how the police department is being run since Chief Kelly Furtado was appointed Chief. Officer Huard did not accumulate enough time to retire and moved on to another job.

My same sources report that seasoned officers have been reassigned to night shift and other undesirable jobs by Chief Furtado because they appeared neutral or against her in the rift between former Chief Gauvin and current Chief Furtado. The FRPD public information officers have not returned multiple calls to verify the information.