CCB MEDIA PHOTO
Matthew Sonnabend and Sean Balcom have both been promoted to the position of Deputy Chief.
BARNSTABLE – The Barnstable Police Department appointed two new deputy chiefs Wednesday.
Barnstable Police Detective Lieutenant Sean E. Balcom and Barnstable Police Lieutenant Matthew K. Sonnabend were sworn into office at police headquarters.
They will replace retiring Barnstable Police Deputy Chief Craig Tamash and fill another spot left vacant by the departure of Deputy Chief Mike Martin.
Barnstable Police Chief Paul B. MacDonald said what he was most impressed with in both lieutenants was “their skills, their dedication, the way they conduct themselves, the way they mentor their subordinates and the way they conduct themselves overall.”
Balcom is a 26-year veteran of the Department, having been assigned to the Investigative Services Division for the past fifteen years, overseeing the Criminal Investigation Unit and the Drug Unit, and specializing in narcotics investigations. He holds a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Anna Maria College.
Sonnabend is an 18-year veteran of the Department, having been assigned to the Executive Services Division for the past five years, overseeing Personnel Selection, Internal Affairs, Training, Information Systems, and Firearms Licensing. Sonnabend is a veteran of the US Army, and holds an Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Cape Cod Community College.
New Deputy Chief Sonnabend says there’s a number of issues he wants to tackle.
“Right now we have an opiod problem here in the state that really needs to be addressed and we also have the homeless issue that we have here in town and the youth are always a constant issue, not that they’re a problem, but getting them involved with their futures and showing them the right way,” said Sonnabend.
Balcom will be assigned as the Commander of the Administrative and Investigative Services Bureau and Sonnabend will be assigned as the Commander of the Field Services Bureau.
Both deputy chiefs were sworn in on Wednesday, May 6 in a ceremony at the Barnstable Police Department.
