DUMFRIES — Dumfries Police Chief Nicholas R. Esposito resigned, effective October 17.
Town officials gave no comment on the reason for Esposito’s resignation. Esposito was appointed police chief in April 2017. Esposito came to the Town from the Alexandria Police Department with experience in interviewing victims, witnesses, traffic law, arresting suspects and testifying in court.
Wood says Esposito initiated his resignation, and as a result, no severance package was offered by the town.
James McCarthy has been appointed acting police chief. Wood says McCarthy’s tenure of over 20 years as a police officer earned him this position.
The town is actively searching for a new police chief with the first interviews starting on November 13. Wood says they want to give all qualified people a chance to apply for this position. He says they are considering candidates in-house and through the chief of police network. McCarthy is being considered for the police chief role.
Wood did not give an anticipated date a new chief would be appointed. He said the timeline is, “as soon as we find a good fit to lead.”
Esposito’s resignation comes as the police department is in the process of rebuilding itself after a majority of officers left the department in 2017, following the demotion of former Chief Rebecca Edwards.
A plan by the town’s elected leaders and then-Mayor Jerry Foreman to have the town’s police department provide 24-hour coverage and to be less reliant on Prince William County police for support backfired when Edwards’ salary was diminished. Edwards quit and went to work as a deputy for the Prince William County Sheriff’s office and nearly every officer on the force followed her out the door.
Dumfries leaders are also searching for a new town manager after firing Robert Ritter in August. Officials cited difference in governance styles as the reason for Ritter’s dismissal.
Both Esposito and Ritter were hired under the former town council led by Foreman.
