On Thursday, Rindge Police Chief Daniel Anair signed off for the last time.
Through his radio, several of his fellow officers offered their congratulations and thanked him for his service to the town.
“He has served the Rindge community and the members of the Rindge Police Department with diligence…” Anair’s dispatch radio reported after his final sign off, in a video posted to the Rindge Police Department Facebook page. “From fleet management to evidence preservation, and everything in between, Chief Anair has embraced each assigned task at the Rindge Police Department with the utmost integrity and the greatest efficiency.”
Following his retirement, Rindge Sgt. Rachel Malynowski has been named the interim police chief. The Select Board is scheduled to meet in a non-public session this Wednesday to discuss hiring a new chief. Town Administrator Sara Gravell said the board is scheduled to discuss at least one potential candidate for the position during that meeting.
“We have been in the process of searching for a new chief, and hopefully, we will have an announcement on Wednesday,” Selectman Bob Hamilton said in an interview Monday.
Anair has been a staple in the Rindge force for just short of 21 years, starting there as an officer in February 2001. He has worked his way from the start of his career as a patrolman all the way to the highest position in the department while serving in Rindge.
Anair, in his time in Rindge, served as the department’s sergeant from 2013, until Oct. 2017, when he was promoted to chief after the departure of former Chief Todd Muilenberg. Prior to holding the sergeant rank, he also served as a detective and was on the state’s Drug Task Force.
In 2011, Anair became one of the founding members and leader for the Monadnock Regional Special Response Team, a regional police initiative that called upon officers from across the region for potential high-risk situations.
“Dan has been here for 21 years, and he’s been with us as a patrol officer, a detective, a sergeant, and a chief,” Hamilton said. “He has become a dear friend and I will miss him.”
“It has been excellent working with him, and he has served the town for 21 years. I know the entire [Select] Board would want to say, ‘Thank you.’ Because it was a pleasure working with him,” said Gravell.
Rindge, like many local departments, has been tackling the issue of recruitment and growth. This year, the town approved a ninth full-time position for the department. Anair, while advocating for the position this spring, told residents that Rindge, like many surrounding communities, struggles to keep its young officers after they are trained. At the time, he suggested the department should have a total of 12 officers to be fully staffed, but said nine would alleviate the constant need for full-time officers to pick up excessive overtime shifts.
Continuing to build up and grow the department will be an ongoing goal for whomever steps into Anair’s shoes, Gravell said. The department has also submitted some requests for federal COVID-19 relief funds for new equipment.