Barnstable Town Council Taps Sonnabend as New Police Chief

BARNSTABLE – The Barnstable Town Council has elevated Deputy Police Chief Matthew Sonnabend to the top position in the department.

Sonnabend was one of two candidates that placed first on the Police Chief Eligibility List.

“I would not be here if not for the men and women of the Police Department, because it is on their successes, and the shoulders of their successes, that I stand to get here, and I am not going to forget that. But change is both a scary thing, and an exciting thing,” said Sonnabend during Thursday night’s meeting.

“I know a lot of people are wondering where are we going from here, and what’s going to happen, and there will be change, but I want to assure everybody that the priorities of the Police Department remain the same. We are here to serve the public, that’s our primary mission,” said Sonnabend, who takes over as Barnstable Police Chief from Paul McDonald, who retired last month.

In making this decision, Barnstable Town Manager Mark Ells also took into consideration the results of a citizen survey, community stakeholder panel and an individual interview.

“I think this was a very well-orchestrated process under Town Manager Mark Ells. I know that we had three finalists, all who were excellent candidates, at the end of any selection process one person emerges to the top, and I am very pleased with the Manager’s recommendation,” said Councilor John Flores.

“Chief MaDonald started us down a path and now it’s time to widen that to a road to work with the community, and to entrench even further, and develop programs. Who knows where they are going to go, but we as a department want to develop them to their utmost,” said Sonnabend.

Sonnabend has served in the U.S. Army Military Police, Falmouth, and Barnstable Police Departments, spanning 21 years of law enforcement experience.

By JOHN BONDAREK, CapeCod.Com News Center

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