PHOTO: Left to right: Newton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller, Police Chief George McMains, Superintendent Dennis Dowling, Capt. Kenneth Dangelo; Lt. Joseph Brooks and Sgt. Michael Gaudet. Photo by Bryan McGonigle
On Thursday afternoon, George McMains was sworn in as Newton’s 20th police chief.
He shared the spotlight with four other officers who have been promoted into new leadership roles—Superintendent Dennis Dowling, Capt. Kenneth Dangelo, Lt. Joseph Brooks and Sgt. Michael Gaudet—at the City Hall War Memorial building.
“As supervisors, we’ll have to direct others. As leaders, we should be setting positive examples for others to follow,” McMains said as he addressed his new leadership team.
McMains was born and raised in Iowa and served in the Marines for five years, with active duty in Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. He joined the Newton Police Department in 1997 as a patrol officer.
McMains would rise to the role of sergeant, and a detective, and then internal affairs commander, and then superintendent in 2022.
Last year, when Chief John Carmichael took a personal leave, McCains serves as acting chief. Fuller picked him to serve as permanent chief two months ago.
“George McCains certainly brings to this leadership role extensive experience,” Fuller said before swearing McMains and the others into office. “But in addition to experience, George McMains is a calm and focused professional whose principled determination makes sure justice is served.”
Justice Mary Heffernan of Newton District Court spoke of McMains’s dedication to service and ability to adapt the job of policing to changing times.
“He is a leader who rolls up his sleeves, he’s not above lending a hand when his colleagues need it,” Heffernan said. “He is extremely affable, he’s accessible and a man of his word. He’s forward-thinking, he’s approachable, he’s kind.
McMains said he intends to build on the department’s community policing focus with sidewalk patrols and programs like its Community Police Academy.
“As I step into the position of chief of police, one of our immediate goals is to increase and improve on our commitment to the community—our residents, business owners, the visitors to the city—through our community outreach effort,” McMains said.
Superintendent Dennis Dowling
Dowling joined the Newton Police Department as a patrol officer in 1987 and was promoted to sergeant ten years later. He rose to the rank of lieutenant in 2000 and captain in 2009. He has a bachelor’s degree from Boston College and a master’s degree in criminal justice from Anna Maria College.
Dowling is a third generation Newton Police officer. His grandfather, William Dowling, was a sergeant, and his father, William Dowling Jr., was a lieutenant.
Capt. Kenneth Dangelo
Dangelo served in the Navy for four years before joining the Newton Police Department more than 30 years ago.
He started as a patrol officer and rose to patrol sergeant before serving as community police officer, elder affairs officer, community services supervisor and—for the past 17 years—lieutenant of the Patrol Bureau.
Lt. Joseph Brooks
Brooks worked in the Bentley University Police Department and later the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Police Department before joining the Newton Police Department in 2013. He was promoted to sergeant in 2021 and most recently served in the department’s Community Services Bureau.
Brooks grew up in Auburndale and graduated from Newton North High School before earning his bachelor’s degree from Westfield State College and his master’s degree from Anna Maria College.
Sgt. Michael Gaudet
Gaudet joined the Newton Police Department in 2013 in the Patrol Bureau, and he serves as a grant administrator for the department. Before coming to the NPD, he was a deputy sheriff with the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department in Boston,
Gaudet was raised in Lynn and graduated from Lynn English High School before earning his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and legal studies from Lasell University and his master’s degree in criminal justice and crisis management from Lasell.
You can watch the entire ceremony on NewTV’s YouTube channel.