FALL RIVER ─ Former Fall River police chief Paul Gauvin has been collecting his base salary of about $164,600 since the state Civil Service Commission ordered him reinstated as a captain on Aug. 6. But he has not returned to active duty.
Mayor Paul Coogan’s administration says Gauvin is not back at work because he is waiting on a recertification decision from the Massachusetts Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission.
But POST told the Fall River Reporter in an email that Gauvin’s certification remains in effect while the commission reviews his recertification application, which allows him to return to duty for now.
POST Director of Communications & Community Engagement Alia Spring wrote:
“Paul Gauvin of Fall River Police has a certification status of ‘Further Certification Review.’ After the Civil Service Commission issued its decision, the Fall River Police Department submitted a recertification application for Gauvin. After reviewing the application, the Commission determined that it requires additional time to make a decision.”
“The submission of the recertification application enables Gauvin’s previous certification to continue until a final decision is made on the application. As a result, his status is listed as ‘Further Certification Review’ with an underlying status of ‘Certified.’”
Gauvin’s POST certification expired July 1, 2025, while he was fired.
Gauvin stepped down as chief in October 2024 under an agreement with the mayor, after both police unions voted no confidence in him, and was due to return to the department as a captain. Instead, the city ended his contract as chief on March 31, 2025, and fired him from his civil service job as captain on April 21, 2025, after conflicts between Gauvin, the leaders of the city’s two police unions and Kelly Furtado, who succeeded him as chief, came to a head.
Gauvin appealed to the Civil Service Commission. After nine days of hearings, the commission reduced the firing to a 90-day suspension and ordered him reinstated as of April 21, 2025, “without further loss of compensation or benefits.” The city is still calculating the back pay he is owed for that period, less the suspension.
Interim chief says keeping Gauvin off duty is justified
Interim Police Chief J.T. Hoar, who became acting chief when Furtado stepped down in April and was named interim chief by Coogan after she retired, said in an email that it was his decision to keep Gauvin off active duty until POST makes a final decision on his recertification. Hoar said in August that he planned to keep Gauvin on paid administrative leave during the POST review. (Read Hoar’s full response at the end of this story.)
“My decision had to weigh the best interests of both the Department and Captain Gauvin. When an officer’s certification is under inquiry by the POST Division of Standards, the employing agency decides that officer’s duty status while under inquiry.
“Bringing Captain Gauvin back to a restricted role without a clear purpose would not be fair to him or to the Department. I understand there are concerns about an officer being paid while on leave. The responsible course is to let the review conclude so we can act once, with clear direction, rather than reorganize now and possibly again later,” Hoar wrote.
Hoar also noted that the department’s command structure has changed since Gauvin left.
“Returning a Captain is not like reassigning a patrol officer,” Hoar wrote.
Coogan declined to comment on Gauvin’s POST status, calling it a “police matter.”
Gauvin says he is ready to return
Gauvin said Wednesday that he has completed his past and current in-service training requirements and is scheduled to finish firearms range training next week.
He said he understands the “murkiness” of the situation, since his POST status may seem ambiguous.
Asked whether he was ready to return to duty, Gauvin said yes.
“I’ve fought for the right to return to my career, and I’m more than happy to return. I’ll be there whatever day they say,” Gauvin said. “I just want to move on and get this behind me.”
Interim Chief J.T. Hoar’s full response
Here is Interim Police Chief J.T. Hoar’s complete emailed response to the Fall River Reporter:
A Captain is one of the highest-ranking positions in the Department. During his absence, the Department’s command structure and assignments have been organized to keep operations and supervision running smoothly. Returning a Captain is not like reassigning a patrol officer. It requires changes across the command staff, the chain of command, and the units they oversee.
My decision had to weigh the best interests of both the Department and Captain Gauvin. When an officer’s certification is under inquiry by the POST Division of Standards, the employing agency decides that officer’s duty status while under inquiry. Bringing Captain Gauvin back to a restricted role without a clear purpose would not be fair to him or to the Department. I understand there are concerns about an officer being paid while on leave. The responsible course is to let the review conclude so we can act once, with clear direction, rather than reorganize now and possibly again later.
This Department has been through multiple leadership changes, reorganizations, and personnel moves in recent years. From the beginning, I said I would work to reduce that noise. I move with a plan and I am transparent about it, and that is what we are doing here. This plan has been communicated to my command staff and to the City.
I met with Captain Gauvin personally to discuss this process and the plan for his return and reintegration, and we have stayed in regular contact since. I have been open with him throughout, and he has been fully cooperative. He has done everything asked of him, including working to complete his outstanding training and making himself available whenever needed.
Captain Gauvin has told me he is eager to return and contribute to this Department, and I appreciate that. The best way to support him is to wait for the POST decision on his certification review. If that decision allows him to return without further disciplinary action or restriction, he can step back into his role fully and with confidence, without a pending review hanging over him.
At no point have I stood in the way of Captain Gauvin’s process. I have stayed in close communication with the POST Commission, the Municipal Police Training Committee, Captain Gauvin, and his legal counsel to make sure every step on the Department’s side is completed promptly and correctly. That includes completing the required attestation for his certification renewal and coordinating his outstanding in-service training.
My goal has been to move this process forward, not hold it back, so that a final determination can be made then the Department, The City and Captain Gauvin can move forward with certainty.
Thanks,
Chief J.T. Hoar
Fall River Police Department
