Franklin names Daniel Poirier new police chief

FRANKLIN — Daniel Poirier is this city’s new police chief, selected after a competitive application process. The interview committee recommended two candidates, one of whom was Poirier. And after a nonpublic session before a city council meeting held on Nov. 18, Poirier was confirmed to step into the role.

Fire Chief Mike Foss said he has had a great working relationship with Poirier. A member of the interview committee, Foss said while two candidates were being considered, Poirier was the preferable choice.

“Chief Poirier has always been very responsive to the needs of the fire department,” Foss said. “I think experience and working relationships are a great foundation to build upon in the next stage in his career.”

City Manager Judie Milner said she picked Poirier for his honesty and integrity on the job, and during the selection process. She also considered his experience already working in the police department. Franklin's department is staffed 24/7, one of few such departments in the Lakes Region other than Laconia, and Milner thought Poirier was most experienced working in this type of environment than the other candidates. Milner said all department head positions are competitive, and the city encourages, and seriously considers, outside candidates to apply.

“It was competitive when I hired Chief Foss. It's competitive when I hired Chief Poirier. But though both of them were the person to be because they were the internal candidate in the second position within their departments, they both competed for it,” Milner said. “And I ran it the same, both ways, where I did not sit on the interview committee, and they were both the clear choices of the interview committee.”

Poirier also had references from school Superintendent Daniel LeGallo, former Fire Chief Kevin LaChapelle, Merrimack County Sheriff David Croft and the immediate past Police Chief David Goldstein.

LeGallo said Poirier is a nice selection for the city. He has assisted with school parades, visited the schools to talk with staff and was the lead responder during a statewide school threat hoax last year whose targets included Franklin schools.

"Over the last 10 years, I’ve had many chances to see Dan in action," he said. "He’s been a big support of the schools."

Milner thanked Concord Chief Bradley Osgood and Derry Chief George Feole for being on the interview committee, and Hudson Police Chief Tad Dionne for advising her through the process.

After Milner made her selection, the council then 10 days to consider the hire. At the nonpublic session on Nov. 18, Poirier was confirmed, and started as chief that same night.

Mayor Desiree McLaughlin was present at the meeting, but emphasized she did not vote on the motion.

“I didn’t have any decision-making in it,” she said. “Our charter doesn’t give the mayor any say in department heads in general.”

When Poirier was a lieutenant, he received a no-confidence vote, along with Goldstein, from the Franklin Police Patrolman’s Association in December 2022. Milner acknowledged this, as well as the fact she received a vote of no confidence from the union as well. She said the number of officers from the department in the union are small, now only two. She and the interview committee looked at input from the whole department to make their recommendation. The vote did not deter her from selecting Poirier as chief.

A swearing-in ceremony for Poirier will take place at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 2, at the Franklin Elks Lodge 1280. Poirier’s wife is expected to pin his badge on and say a few words, and his parents are flying in from Florida. Milner spoke about Poirier’s reaction to this.

“It makes him a little bit embarrassed. He turns a little red when we all talk about it,” she said. “As a parent, if my kid was becoming police chief, I'd be flying in from wherever, too.”