Chelmsford Police Welcome New Lieutenant

In 23 years Edward Quinn has gone from not being able to get a job with the Chelmsford Police Department to becoming one of its leading officers.

Quinn has been named as the department’s newest lieutenant, filling the role of James Spinney, who became deputy chief last year after the retirement of Scott Ubele.

A Chelmsford native, Quinn graduated from UMass Lowell in 1991 with a degree in criminal justice, just as the department had laid off three officers, leading him to a job in Gilford, New Hampshire.

After three years there, he returned home to join the force in Chelmsford, followed by a promotion to sergeant in 2004.

In his new role, Quinn will go from supervising officers in the field to administrative functions at the Chelmsford Police Station, overseeing operations during the morning shift as one of five lieutenants on the force.

“(I’m) excited for it, looking forward to taking over with the men on my shift. I’m lucky to work with a great group of guys who care about this community,” he says “I’m sure there will be times when I wish I was still out there, but after 23 years, it was time for more responsibility.”

The transition will become official on Thursday as he takes over for the acting lieutenant since Ubele’s retirement, Sgt. Paul Cooper.