ATF Agent Selected as Chief of Mass. Dept.

Scott Heagney will succeed outgoing Fitchburg, Mass., Police Chief Robert DeMoura, pending City Council approval, reports the Sentinel & Enterprise .

Heagney, who currently is resident agent-in-charge of the Rochester, N.Y., field office for the U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, was one of three finalists for the position.

Heagney grew up in Attleboro and began his career at the Franklin Police Department, where he served from 1987 through 2001, leaving as a lieutenant and detective overseeing the Tri-County Drug Task Force.

"I was extremely impressed with Scott's grounding in police work and his out-of-the-box career at the ATF -- both will serve Fitchburg well as we grapple with many complex issues facing towns across the country," Mayor Lisa Wong said. "Mr. Heagney did incredibly well during the assessment center conducted on several of the applicants by the search firm, Badgequest."