By Joseph Edgerton
Staff Writer

New Boston is in the process of obtaining a new police chief, but town officials are unable to say when a chief will be selected.

The town has been searching for a new police chief since March of this year. Bruce Mac- Dougall is the current interim chief.

Town Administrator Burton Reynolds said that MacDougall has been serving since March 8, 2005. Police chiefs are elected by the board of selectmen, and the term of service varies. The previous chief was Greg Begin, who had served a fiveyear term before becoming the Weare police chief.

"Eventually, a chief will be appointed by the board of selectmen," said Reynolds. "But first, there is an interview process." Reynolds said that applicants are typically screened by a panel made up of the municipal association and two to three former police chiefs.

"The chiefs don't necessarily have to be local, but they could be."

According to Reynolds, there were 16 applicants for the position this year. It is the responsibility of the panel to narrow down the range to five or six candidates. After this happens, the selectmen screen the applicants before deciding who gets the job.

Reynolds was unable to say when a chief might be elected, but said that the board will interview the five or six candidates individually.

"We don't necessarily have to elect anyone from the group that we get," he said. "If we aren't satisfied, we might begin all over again."