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NEW BEDFORD — Police Chief Paul Oliveira is retiring from the police department in May after 32 years on the city’s force, including as deputy chief and a narcotics detective.
His retirement, announced Tuesday, comes more than two years before his latest contract, which took effect last summer, is set to expire in 2027.
The Light asked a police department spokeswoman who will serve as acting chief when Oliveira departs, and whether the city will be looking internally or externally for Oliveira’s replacement. The Light also requested comment from Oliveira on why he is retiring before his contract expires. The spokeswoman did not provide answers before publication.
Oliveira, who turns 55 in April, has served as chief since 2021. In a statement, he said it was the “honor of a lifetime” to lead the department and that he was “immensely proud” of what he and New Bedford officers had accomplished.
“Specifically, I want to acknowledge the efforts and initiatives that have resulted in a consistent and substantial reduction in violent crime,” Oliveira wrote. “I must recognize the continued efforts of the past and present members of the Narcotics Division, where I spent a significant part of my career and was so proud to have worked with so many brave, deeply committed officers. The officers there have relentlessly taken record numbers of drugs and guns off the streets, helping to make New Bedford a more desirable community to live in.”
Oliveira also cited accomplishments in building trust with the immigrant community. He hired bilingual officers and supported legislation, passed in Massachusetts in 2023, to allow immigrants to receive a driver’s license, regardless of status. Just before the new Trump administration began, Oliveira said he would not prevent his officers from sharing information with immigration officers, but also said he wanted to maintain the trust the department had built with immigrants.
During his four-year term as chief, Oliveira dealt with hiring and retention issues. In October 2023, the police union voted no confidence in him, citing “serious problems” and “dissatisfaction” with his leadership, in part over staffing shortages and turnover. The union took the same action against Oliveira’s predecessor.
An external review of the department, released in August 2023, found issues with declining staff levels and sexual harassment. A year later, The Light found the department had adopted some reforms recommended in the review, but not others, including several recommendations on transparency and officer misconduct.
In a statement, Mayor Jon Mitchell called Oliveira’s career a success.
“In his four years as chief, he presided over a Department whose ranks, like those of most urban departments, abruptly contracted in the wake of the pandemic, and yet he was able to drive double-digit declines in violent and property crime,” Mitchell said.
He also highlighted Oliveira’s adoption of recommended reforms and body-worn cameras, which were deployed starting in September 2024.
“As a result of his leadership, New Bedford is a safer city, and the Department has a stronger command of the public’s trust,” Mitchell said. “On behalf of the City of New Bedford, I thank him for his exemplary career in service to our residents.”
Oliveira’s retirement takes effect May 3. His salary as of 2024 was about $209,000, and was set to increase to $214,000 in June.
His contract with the city includes a clause that either party can terminate the contract “for convenience.” A city spokesperson, asked which party ended the chief’s contract and why, said, “In informing the Mayor of his decision, the Chief referenced his eligibility for retirement” based on his tenure, noting that only two other members of his 1992 police academy class were still serving in the department.
The department’s deputy chief position is vacant. Below the chief are two assistant deputy chiefs, Derek Belong and Scott Carola.
Oliveira said he will be “working closely with the administration team during this time to ensure a smooth transition.”
Email Anastasia E. Lennon at alennon@newbedfordlight.org.
Will the the new Chief take up the mantle of Sherriff Thom?
Curious, will New Bedford be paying pensions now on three or four ex-chiefs along with the acting chief? That’s around a half million dollars in payments. I know figures lie and liars figure, but this is the truth! Looks like a job for a City DOGE!
Are pensions to high?
Who should not get one?
How much money has Elon saved you?
Congratulations Police Chief Paul Oliveira on your upcoming retirement and thank you for 32 years of service on the New Bedford Police Department.
Should our next chief insist on uniform on, body cam on?
Looks like the Boston Globe’s Spotlight Team has done an investigation into NBPD and their CI practices and it stands to make members of his department and thus his own leadership look very bad. Wonder if some knowledge of this precipitated an early departure.
What has the investigating shown?
“Boston Globe’s Spotlight Team has done an investigation into NBPD and their CI practices” has no Google returns.
I wonder if you are telling the truth.
Have had a bad NBPD experience.
It’s a multi-part series called Snitch City advertised on BostonGlobe.com starting March 11.
What has the investigating shown?
As I said, it’s being released March 11 but the preview certainly sounds juicy with instances of serious corruption.