Casey Appointed as Hanson's New Police Chief as Current Chief Announces Retirement
30-year veteran to take helm July 1 as town faces critical budget decisions
HANSON - May 13 - The Hanson Select Board unanimously appoints Michael Casey as the town's new Chief of Police effective July 1, 2025, following the retirement announcement of current Chief Miksch after 12 years of service.
Casey, a 30-year veteran of the Hanson Police Department who has served as lieutenant for the past eight years, receives strong endorsement from the outgoing chief.
"I am 100% confident that if I walk down tomorrow and hand him the key, everything's going to be fine," Chief Miksch tells the board. "The citizens aren't going to see any lack of services or major issues or anything like that."
The appointment comes as Hanson faces significant budget challenges, with a critical override vote scheduled for Saturday that will determine the town's financial future.
Casey expresses gratitude for the opportunity and outlines his vision for the department.
"I will start with him," Casey says, referring to Chief Miksch. "I'm going to continue the succession plan. We have amazing and talented men and women in our department. It's key to take care of your people, because then they'll take care of us, which is the community."
Chief Miksch, who will retire just short of 30 years in law enforcement, praises Casey's institutional knowledge and connections within the community.
"He's made my job easier. The officers respect him," Miksch says. "He has done a great job over the past eight years."
Select Board Chair Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett notes the importance of continuity in leadership.
"The continuing succession planning is critical," she says. "If you are appointed, which seems as though you will be, we want you to build on the successes of your predecessor, but make it your own."
Casey, who began his career as an auxiliary officer, says he has always aspired to leadership.
"When I was interviewing as an auxiliary, Rusty King's first thing was, will you see yourself? And I said, someday, be a chief," Casey recalls. "So I started from the bottom, making my way all the way up to the top. I love Hanson. I love the community."
The leadership transition comes at a critical time for Hanson as the town faces significant budget challenges. Town officials emphasize the importance of Saturday's override vote, which will determine whether the town can maintain current service levels.
Town Accountant Eric Kinsherf presents two financial scenarios to the board. If the override passes, Hanson will have $1.97 million in free cash and $1.7 million in the stabilization fund. If it fails, free cash drops to $907,000, with the stabilization fund remaining the same.
"If the override passes, the town will be in great financial shape for the next three years," Kinsherf says.
Select Board member Joe Weeks stresses the significance of the vote.
"Saturday matters. Like it matters a lot," Weeks says. "We cannot defend against the MBTA stuff. We cannot do the roadways during storms. We are not going to have enough fire or police. We are not going to have anything to operate at the level that we need to."
Board members express frustration that they control only about half of the town's budget, with the school budget representing the other portion.
"We're only in charge of 50% of the budget if you really think about that. The other 50% is not this board," Weeks explains. "We've done everything we can to try to keep the budget in a meaningful way."
FitzGerald-Kemmett defends the board's fiscal management.
"I feel super confident that we are stretching dollars as far as we can," she says, noting efforts to pursue grants, sell town-owned properties, and explore shared services with other communities.
The board also discusses the possibility of de-regionalizing the school system to gain more control over education spending, though members acknowledge this would likely increase costs.
In other business, the board:
- Discusses enforcement of the town's nip bottle ban, voting to issue notices of non-compliance with a 30-day timeline
- Proclaims May 2025 as ALS Awareness Month
- Receives an update on the MBTA Community Act litigation
- Hears a comprehensive update from Town Planner Tony De Frias on numerous grant-funded projects throughout town
- Discusses preparations for the Memorial Day Parade
Town Administrator Lisa Green reports that the Library Senior Center generator installation is complete, early voting for Saturday's election is busy, and negotiations with all town unions continue.
The Select Board will meet next on May 20, 2025.