Painchaud sworn in as new Alton Police chief, MacDougall retires

ALTON — There’s a new top cop in town, and it’s someone residents know well. The Alton Police Department promoted Adam Painchaud to chief, as Todd MacDougall enters retirement.

Painchaud was sworn in by the selectboard at the beginning of Tuesday’s meeting and Chair Paul LaRochelle did his due diligence to send off MacDougall in style. He presented the outgoing chief with a certificate recognizing him for more than 23 years of “dedicated and faithful service to the Town of Alton.”

“We are grateful for your commitment to the town, and the contributions you have made through the years to better serve our community,” LaRochelle said.

Four of those years were as the department’s chief, and MacDougall thanked the members of the department, residents, and his family for helping him be successful.

“I am super appreciative of all you have done for me,” MacDougall said.

McDougall also thanked Painchaud for helping him decide on an insignia for his uniform when he first became chief, by giving him a star Painchaud's father once wore on his police uniform.

Painchaud’s father, Wayne Cheney, was a retired chief of the Pembroke Police Department. Police chiefs in New Hampshire have anywhere between one and five stars on their uniform, and when his father took over as chief, he decided to have single star pinned to his garment.

When MacDougall became Alton police chief, he was contemplating uniforms, and really liked the one-star idea. After Painchaud gave him his father’s star, he was able to give it back to the new chief on Tuesday, bringing things full circle.

The Alton Police Department honored MacDougall for his service on social media, saying from his role as patrol officer all the way to the chief’s position, “he has been the definition of a consummate professional leader.

“Leaders like Chief MacDougall are rare,” the post reads. “He led from the front with humility — consistently putting others before himself and never seeking recognition or credit.”

While he is retiring, MacDougall will still be working part-time, and made clear to the public he’s not going anywhere.

“I’ll see you guys around,” MacDougall said to the audience, which included 17 members of the police department.

LaRochelle told The Daily Sun he couldn’t say better things about both MacDougall and Painchaud, and when a department has two law enforcement members like them, the town is in good hands.

“We appreciate the service that the outgoing chief brought to the town,” LaRochelle said. “He was a very accommodating and professional person, and we just couldn’t have asked for a better person in that role.”

When MacDougall wanted to retire, he recommended Painchaud to succeed him to the selectboard. LaRochelle said the choice was easy, echoing his own sentiments about the new chief.

“We couldn’t ask for a better replacement,” LaRochelle said. “It was a unanimous decision with everyone that he would be the best replacement, and he is very happy to be the chief of the Town of Alton.”

Painchaud has been with the Alton Police Department for 17 years, and is a retired special agent for the U.S. Air Force. Before taking the role of chief, Painchaud was the department’s detective sergeant, and said he will be looking to fill that role internally, as well.

Painchaud said Tuesday morning the department is “sitting strong,” and he is proud of the team he now leads. He had nothing but high praise for MacDougall, saying he has the utmost respect for his former boss.

“He goes down as one of the most respected chiefs around,” Painchaud said. “He was an amazing chief, and we will miss him.”

Painchaud was sworn in after MacDougall’s recognition, and he admitted it brought a tear to his eye. He thanked his department and town leaders, and notably MacDougall, for believing in him and paving the way.

“We wouldn’t be here without you, and we wouldn’t be the PD we are without you,” Painchaud said. “I appreciate you letting me carry on the torch.”