Interim Police Chief Richard Stanley has been selected to become Wareham's full-time police chief.

Selectmen Chairman Bruce Sauvageau said at Tuesday's Board meeting that an agreement has been reached "in principle" between Stanley and Town Administrator Mark Andrews.

"This is solely dependent upon contract terms being fully negotiated, Chief Stanley's agreement with North Andover and his Board of Selectmen there, as well as the process of what is called a lateral transfer under Civil Service," Sauvageau said.

Former Wareham Chief Thomas Joyce retired in June. The position has been filled on a part-time basis since August by Stanley, who currently serves as full-time police chief in North Andover.

Stanley, a member of the North Andover Police Department since 1977 and chief since 1986, is eligible for retirement from North Andover this year.

Speaking at the Selectmen's meeting, Stanley said he did not intend to seek the full-time chief position when he first came to Wareham.

"I was clearly in a position where I never thought that this day would come," he said. "It was not on my radar screen."

He added: "I'm in a position where I feel that all board members, including Mr. Cruz who isn't here tonight, have been working with me in such a fashion that there's only one frustration that I have and that frustration is that I'm not here full-time and can't move the organization forward at a faster pace."

The North Andover Police Department is in "great shape," Stanley said. "I have a leadership team that I've trained and worked with over many years who are ready to step into my shoes, and that department will not miss a beat."

However, the North Andover Police Department has been involved in recent controversy. Stanley is one of 36 defendants in a federal civil rights lawsuit filed on Jan. 26 by the family of a Worcester man who was allegedly beaten to death at a routine sobriety checkpoint on Nov. 25, 2009, in North Andover.  An investigation is ongoing by the District Attorney.

Stanley said Thursday that he could not discuss the incident, but he said that he was sure the District Attorney's report would demonstrate that the police did nothing wrong.

"Due to litigation, I'm not at liberty to discuss any particulars," Stanley said. I can assure you that, when the DA's office comes out with the report, I anticipate that report to find no fault with the police officers."

As for Wareham, he said at the Selectmen's meeting, "If in fact we get to this point over the next couple of weeks, which I'm sure we can, I guarantee you a couple of things." He said will work to get the police department accredited and will make it a "leader in the industry." He said he hopes to eventually start planning for a new public safety facility.

"I think we have the best chief that we could possibly dream for and actually secure for the town going forward," Andrews said.

"I think you're probably, based on what I've seen and what I have come to understand about your history, that arguably, we may have one of the finest police chiefs in the Commonwealth joining us and that's something we can't afford, as an opportunity, to miss. So we have to do everything we can, frankly, to get you here," Sauvageau said.

The Wareham Police Chief's position is currently covered by provisions of Massachusetts Civil Service law. Last fall, Selectmen asked Town Meeting to remove the chief's job from Civil Service protection but, after heated debate, the request was voted down.

Because Stanley is a Civil Service employee in North Andover, he can be named to the Wareham post without the town's requesting a "chief's exam" for all interested applicants. Instead, the town need only seek the "lateral transfer" of Stanley's Civil Service status.

Stanley told the Eagle-Tribune of Lawrence that he has unfinished business as North Andover's chief that will keep him in town until the summer. The North Andover Police Department, like the Wareham Police Department, is seeking state law enforcement accreditation, and Stanley said he will not leave North Andover until that accreditation is received in May. Stanley also said that he will not leave North Andover until the town's police station is moved, which is planned to occur this summer.

Members of the Police Department expressed excitement at their new chief.

"We are very excited that he has chosen to come aboard and lead this department," said Wareham Police Public Information Officer Bill Fihlman.  "The men and women of the Wareham Police Department are absolutely excited. Morale in this department is sky high, everyone is motivated, and it's an exciting place to work.  Chief Stanley is a man of many talents, and his credentials are unsurpassed.  He's a cop's cop."