The chief of the Canton Police Department plans to retire when her current contract ends June 30, officials said, ending a three-year tenure marked by controversy over the Karen Read case.
Chief Helena Rafferty notified the Canton Select Board of her plans Tuesday, according to Select Board Chair Michael Loughran.
“In the weeks ahead, the Town will appoint an interim police chief to ensure a smooth transition,’’ Loughran said in a statement. “We also intend to engage a professional consulting firm to assist with a comprehensive, nationwide search for our next police chief.’’
When Rafferty joined the Canton Police Department in 1989 she was the second female officer in the department’s history, and she’s served as chief since June 2022, Loughran said.
“As the first female police chief in our town’s history, Chief Rafferty has been a trailblazer and earned the respect of her colleagues, town officials, and residents alike,’’ Loughran said.
In June 2024, board members voted to approve a one-year contract for Rafferty, who has been at the helm during a turbulent period for the town’s police department, which has been criticized for how it handled the investigation into Read and the death of her boyfriend, Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe.
In November 2023, residents voted for an independent audit of the Canton Police Department. When the firm that conducted the audit presented their findings earlier this month, they said they didn’t discover any evidence of corruption, evidence tampering, or conspiracy, but they did have concerns about how the department handled evidence and interviewed witnesses after O’Keefe’s body was found covered in snow outside of a Canton home that was owned at the time by Brian Albert, a now retired Boston police officer.
Karen Read’s second murder trial began Tuesday in Norfolk Superior Court, and witness testimony continued on Wednesday.
Emily Sweeney can be reached at emily.sweeney@globe.com. Follow her @emilysweeney and on Instagram @emilysweeney22.
