Select Board unanimously appoints Shane Smith as police chief.
Select Board · Meeting of February 20, 2026
BELMONT — Select Board unanimously appoints Shane Smith police chief pending background check. Chair Matthew Taylor's Board interviewed three finalists, settling on Smith, Deputy Chief of Police in Salem, New Hampshire, citing his 25 years of law enforcement experience, leadership capabilities, and operational background. Smith holds a master's degree in criminal justice, completed the FBI National Academy, and emphasized community engagement and departmental culture in his interview responses.
The Board simultaneously approved the annotated warrant for the March 4 Special Town Meeting unanimously, with Town Administrator Patrice Garvin suggesting amendment summaries be posted separately online.
In the full story:
- The complete report — 271 words
Source: the Select Board meeting of February 20, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
Keep reading with a 14-day free trial
Subscribe to Belmont News to keep reading this post and get 14 days of free access to the full post archives.
A subscription gets you:
- Subscriber-only posts and full archive
- Post comments and join the community
- 24x7 access to local news