City leaders look to future under new Franklin police chief

FRANKLIN — Police Chief Daniel Poirier was sworn in before a crowd of friends, family and peers ahead of a city council meeting at the Franklin Elks Lodge 1280 Monday night.

Poirier’s parents Lou-Ann and Robert Poirier flew in from Florida to attend the ceremony. They said this achievement is something their son strived for his entire career. Despite the distance, they said they would not have missed it.

“He said we didn't need to come,” Lou-Ann said. “And we said, ‘Yes, we do. We're very proud of you.’”

Poirier started his career in law enforcement at the Merrimack County Jail in Boscawen as a correctional officer, then had his first job as a police officer began in Boscawen under then Chief David Croft, now Merrimack County sheriff. Croft was in attendance at the swearing in, and said despite Poirier’s promise as an officer, achieving the rank of chief is not easy. He said he can't predict if someone will earn the job, as he had no “crystal ball.”

“If I did, I probably would have invested differently in the stock market,” he said. “But I certainly knew when I hired him then, he had potential to do good things.”

Poirier joined the Franklin Police Department in 2009. He was promoted to sergeant in 2010, then lieutenant in 2020. Former Police Chief David Goldstein spoke favorably of Poirier at the ceremony. With an off-the-cuff speech, he said being chief is more than being a manager, you also must be a leader and make tough decisions to further the development of the department.

“Leadership, on the other hand, is very difficult, because a leader gets out there and a leader does what he or she has to do in order to make the system and department work,” Goldstein said. “And that's exactly what Dan can do.”

City Manager Judie Milner also spoke highly of the new chief. She articulated Poirier’s ability to learn and grow, listing additional certificates he has earned during his time on the force. This includes executive development from NAMI New Hampshire, in crisis intervention, police standards and training in tactical approach and recovery directed law enforcement, operational planning and background investigation from Homeland Security and active shooter preparedness.

“I am confident that the police department will continue to grow as a professional police department, and as a supportive environment in which to advance in the law enforcement field,” she said.

After speeches, Poirier was sworn in by City Clerk Michelle Stanyan, then his wife Jennifer Poirier pinned his new badge onto his uniform. Poirier then went to the podium to offer remarks of his own.

He said he was honored to have been selected, and thanked his wife and two daughters, 12-year-old Ella and 10-year-old Hannah, for their support. He also thanked his family, friends and co-workers. He emphasized three people who helped to develop him into the officer he is today, naming Croft, Goldstein and former Franklin Fire Chief Kevin LaChapelle, also in attendance. He recalled when LaChapelle became fire chief he gave a speech about the importance of working as a team. And now the importance of leading that team as chief.

“I was standing in the back of the room, and I was really eager to hear what he had to say. And he talked about the fire department, and he talked about this team,” Daniel said. “He kept talking team, team, team, and now that he was promoted to the chief, he's now the captain of that team.

“And that's how I feel today. I work with the greatest men and women in law enforcement, and I'm excited to keep working with them.”