As of Monday, December 6th, Fall River Police
Department Chief Jeffrey Cardoza is on extended leave for health related reasons, which will
continue until his anticipated retirement in March 2022. T

The Acting Chief will be sworn in
today, Tuesday, December 7th before a committee is assembled to advise the hiring of the next
Chief. Mayor Paul Coogan issued the following statement:

“Chief Jeffrey Cardoza has acted admirably over the last year and a half as Chief of
Police. His leadership made significant positive changes to the force, while overseeing the
Department’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic and several other unexpected roadblocks.

On
behalf of the City, I thank him for his years of service to the Police Department and to our
residents. While we are sad to see his departure, he has left the Fall River Police Department in a
better place and we look forward to working with the Acting Chief to continue the progress he
has made.”

 Acting Chief Paul Gauvin has over 24 year of service with the Fall River Police
Department. He has served in the Vice and Intelligence Unit, Staff Services, Professional
Standards, Major Crimes Division and as a Uniform Division Watch Commander.