BEDFORD — Town Manager Sarah Stanton and Select Board Chair Emily Mitchell report to the community that, after a competitive and extensive search process, John C. Fisher has accepted the role as Bedford’s new Chief of Police.

Fisher, the current Carlisle Police Chief brings nearly 30 years of high-level police experience to his new role in Bedford. He spent 22 years with the Nashua Police Department, rising to the role of captain. He was named Carlisle’s chief in 2011 and has served in that role for the past 11 years.

During his time in Carlisle, Fisher has been a noted leader in the region and statewide. In addition to managing the department’s 25 members, Fisher has served as control chief for the North Eastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council (NEMLEC) SWAT Team for the past 10 years, leading a highly-trained group of more than 280 police officers for the regional police mutual aid consortium. In his role as control chief, Fisher has provided security assurance for some of the region’s highest profile events, including the Boston Marathon.

In Carlisle, Fisher oversaw an extensive modernization program that included a state-of-the-art police radio upgrade and a completely new landline and mobile phone system for the agency. He also oversaw software upgrades that made it easier for the public to obtain public records from the agency. Fisher is also familiar with Bedford, as Carlisle is a partner on vital initiatives including Communities for Restorative Justice and the Central Middlesex Police Partnership.

He also put Carlisle PD on the path to state accreditation for the first time and reduced turnover to 0 percent in the agency.

Fisher has been given a conditional offer of employment. Town Manager Stanton is expected to appoint him to start work on Oct. 7, with his official appointment scheduled to be before the Select Board on Oct. 11.

The Town of Bedford hired Public Safety Consultants LLC, led by Hamilton Police Chief Russ Stevens to conduct the search and candidate recruitment process. A total of 22 candidates applied and went through a full assessment center to determine their suitability for the role.

“This was a competitive and detailed recruitment effort engineered to usher the Bedford Police Department forward,” Town Manager Stanton said. “The Bedford Police Department is a leader in progressive policing and procedural justice and I am excited to bring Chief Fisher to Bedford as we bring our police department forward into a new era.”

The Town of Bedford is grateful to the members of its Police Chief Community Interview Panel, which included Town Manager Stanton, Chairperson Mitchell and the following members:

Phil Conrad, Superintendent of Schools

Colleen Doyle, Assistant Town Manager for Human Resources and Administration

Ann Guay, School Committee/ Bedford Resident

Emily Mitchell, Select Board Chair/ Bedford Resident

Angel Molina-Pettit, Bedford Resident

Akil Mondesir, METCO Director and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion for Bedford Public Schools

Heidi Porter, Director of Health and Human Services

Captain Mark Sullivan, Bedford Fire Department/ Bedford Resident