Kenneth Hutchins
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April 5, 1941
Kenneth G. Hutchins | |
|---|---|
| Born | Kenneth Gordon Hutchins Jr. April 5, 1941 Norwood, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Died | July 2, 2021 (aged 80) Northborough, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Occupation | Law enforcement officer |
| Known for | Chief of Police of Northborough, Massachusetts; invocation at the 2012 Republican National Convention |
| Spouse | Priscilla Marion Glass |
Kenneth Gordon Hutchins Jr. (April 5, 1941 to July 2, 2021) was an American law enforcement officer who served as chief of police of Northborough, Massachusetts from 1980 to 2003.[1][2] A member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), he served as president of the church's Florida Tampa Mission and as president of the Boston Massachusetts Temple.[3][4]
Hutchins was born April 5, 1941, in Norwood, Massachusetts, and graduated from Walpole High School.[1][2] He served in the United States Navy aboard the USS Cassin Young.[1][2] After he and his wife joined the LDS Church, he enrolled at Brigham Young University and received degrees in criminal justice and political science.[1][2]
Law enforcement career
Hutchins served as a law enforcement officer in Utah, Colorado, and Massachusetts, and served as chief of police in Northborough for 23 years before retiring in 2003.[1][2] According to his obituary, while serving as chief he established a multi-community SWAT team, graduated from the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia, and led the Northborough Police Department to become one of the first small-town departments in the United States to receive national accreditation.[1] Community Advocate reported that local officials and the sitting chief described him as a forward-thinking and innovative leader and credited him with programs such as community policing initiatives and school resource officers in Northborough.[2]
LDS Church service
In the LDS Church, Hutchins served in local leadership roles including bishop and stake president.[5] He had previously served as a counselor to Mitt Romney in the stake presidency in the Boston area.[5]
In 2003, Hutchins was called to serve as president of the Florida Tampa Mission.[3][1] In 2006, he was called as president of the Boston Massachusetts Temple, with his wife, Priscilla, serving as temple matron.[4][1]