NEWBURYPORT — After over two decades serving the Newburyport Police Department, Lt. Matt Simons will be taking the reins as its new leader after being named city marshal on Monday.
“I am thrilled for the opportunity to serve my hometown as city marshal. As a native Newburyporter who cares about strong, professional leadership for the community’s police department, this is a tremendous opportunity to make a difference,” Simons said in a statement.
Mayor Sean Reardon, who made the announcement, said Simons would start following confirmation by the City Council.
“We had excellent candidates for the position of city marshal, and Lt. Simons rose to the top thanks to his experience, credentials, and vision for the department. I look forward to seeing what he can accomplish as our next city marshal,” Reardon said in a statement.
A first reading of Reardon’s appointment by the council was expected Monday and he could confirmed as early as its Sept. 30 meeting.
Simons, 47, joined the department in 2002 and has served as operations lieutenant since 2016.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and a master’s degree in executive leadership. He has participated in the FBI National Academy and FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Association Trilogy. He is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and was honorably discharged in 1999.
In 2018, Simons was honored for performing lifesaving medical care to a motorist while off duty after he watched a seemingly driverless car drift across the yellow line and slam into a pole in Groveland Square.
Having been on his way to attend his daughter’s basketball game that night, Simons reversed direction and told his wife to call 911. He then got out of his car, pulled the unconscious driver out of the damaged vehicle and began performing CPR. Thanks to Simons’ quick intervention, the individual survived, according to the city.
The position of city marshal became vacant after the retirement of Marshal Mark Murray, who joined the Newburyport Police Department in 1993 and served as marshal since 2016. Murray has served as acting marshal since May 11 and will continue in that capacity until the approval of the new marshal by the City Council.
In 2023, Murray earned $201,331 while Simons earned $154,940, according to city records.
Reardon said his office will submit a final negotiated contract to the City Council regarding Simons’ salary, which will likely be about $175,000.
Murray was joined by hundreds of residents at Port Vida restaurant on Aug. 29 for a retirement party.
Among those spotted stopping by were state Rep. Dawne Shand, D-Newburyport, former state Rep. James Kelcourse, Reardon, former Mayor Donna Holaday, Newbury police Chief Patty Fisher, Merrimac police Chief Eric Shears, Newburyport Harbormaster Paul Hogg, former City Councilor Robert Cronin and dozens of former and current Newburyport Police Department officers. The upstairs floor, where the party was held, was also filled with many of his friends and family.
In his statement announcing Simons as new city marshal, Reardon thanked Murray for his over three decades of service.
“He has been an exemplary marshal, and we are appreciative for all he has done to leave the department in a strong position,” Reardon said.
He also thanked the hiring committee, led by former Essex County Sherriff Frank Cousins.
“They facilitated an excellent process, and we are very happy with the result,” Reardon said.
The process to appoint a new city marshal is mandated by ordinance. A selection committee reviewed resumes, interviewed top candidates, and forwarded the names of four finalists to Reardon.
The committee consisted of Cousins, Fisher, Human Resources Director Donna Drelick, Ward 6 City Councilor Byron Lane, Newburyport fire Chief Stephen Bradbury III, retired Georgetown police Chief Donald Cudmore, School Committee member Juliet Walker, Recreation and Youth Services Director Andrea Egmont, and retired Newburyport police Officer Keith Carter.
The four finalists participated in an assessment center on Aug. 24 run by Public Safety Consultants, LLC, which included a series of real-world exercises that city marshals would be expected to encounter. Reardon interviewed the three top scorers from the assessment center and selected Simons.
Daily News Editor Dave Rogers contributed to this report.
Matt Petry covers Amesbury and Salisbury for The Daily News of Newburyport. Email him at: mpetry@northofboston.com.