Gabe Ting Named Amherst’s New Police Chief

Source: amherstma.gov

Town Manager Paul Bockelman announced the appointment of Gabriel Ting as the town’s new Police Chief. The appointment is subject to review by the Town Council.

Ting has served the Town in the Police Department for 27 years. He grew up in Amherst, attended Amherst elementary, middle, and high schools, earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and has worked his way through the ranks. Currently, he serves as Temporary Chief and as Captain in charge of Police Operations.

Bockelman said, “Gabe Ting is the leader who can best lead the Town of Amherst Police Department in the coming years. He brings key qualities to the position including extensive professional police experience in both operations and administration; advanced educational training in criminal justice; proven strength in the ability to listen and communicate – both within the department and with the public; and, a strong commitment to progressive policing and aligning the department with the needs and desires of the Town of Amherst.”

Ting, a resident of Belchertown, started as a Patrol Officer in the Amherst Police Department in 1997, became a Detective in 2004, was promoted to Sergeant in 2010, and then to Lieutenant in 2016. He became Captain of Operations in 2019. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology with a Concentration in Criminal Justice from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and a Master of Science in Criminal Justice Administration from Western New England University.

A certified instructor under the Massachusetts Criminal Justice Training Council, Ting has taught at various police academies. In addition, he has coached youth lacrosse and hockey in Western Massachusetts. He also serves on the Ancestral Bridges Foundation Board of Directors.

In his interviews, Ting spoke of his experience of being born in Argentina to Chinese parents who traveled to various countries seeking opportunity, ultimately immigrating to the United States, and settling in Amherst.

Bockelman noted, “Captain Ting emphasized his commitment to the youth of the Town and building better relations with young people. Most importantly, perhaps, is Captain Ting’s commitment to the Town of Amherst which was evident throughout the process. In his term as Temporary Police Chief, I had the opportunity to work directly with Gabe regularly and observed his ability to lead the department at a very detailed and ground level. He has earned the trust and respect of the police officers in the Department, his professional colleagues, and members of the Town’s many communities.”

The Police Chief Search Committee was chaired by Everald Henry, Esq. and included:

• Lev Ben Ezra, Executive Director of the Amherst Survival Center
• Tony Butterfield, Chair of the Amherst Personnel Board and Professor Emeritus at the Isenberg School of Management at the University of Massachusetts Amherst
• Elizabeth Haygood, Co-chair of the Human Rights Commission
• Everald Henry, Esq. (Chair), member of the Community Safety and Social Justice Committee
• Jennifer Moyston, Assistant Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
• Tim Nelson, Amherst Fire Chief
• Tyrone Parham, Police Chief of the University of Massachusetts Amherst
• Derek Shea, Principal of the Crocker Farm Elementary School
• David Williams, member of the Amherst Housing Authority and member of the Amherst League of Women Voters Racial Justice Committee
• Melissa Loiodice-Walker, the Town’s Director of Human Resources, who provided staff support

The Town Council will consider the appointment at an upcoming meeting.