Wayne Sampson

Executive Director | Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association

Wayne Sampson was working part-time as a police officer in the Shrewsbury Police Department when he attended Quinsigamond Community College for the criminal justice program.

“I attended QCC because the criminal justice program was one of the most respected in the area,” Mr. Sampson said. “There are good instructors; local people who can relate to the local challenges for law enforcement.”

Mr. Sampson went on to become the Chief of the Shrewsbury Police Department, a position he held for nine years before retiring in 2007. Throughout his 34-year career as a police officer, he continued his studies by earning a master’s degree at Anna Maria and his law degree from Southern New England School of Law. He also is a graduate of the FBI National Academy.

He now serves as Executive Director of the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association. The organization supports police chiefs around the state, providing training and development, legal research and advice and administrative support. He is involved in lobbying for law enforcement legislation and issues.

He also works with the Municipal Police Institute, which provides training to police chiefs in the state.

One of the accomplishments Mr. Sampson is most proud of is helping to start a community program to combat domestic violence in Shrewsbury. In the 1990’s, Mr. Sampson helped Shrewsbury residents start Against Domestic Violence in Shrewsbury Education Project (ADVISE).  The program is a partnership with the police department and ADVISE, which offers education and awareness activities. A call line was set up to offer resources, including information about shelters, local agencies, legal advice and contact numbers for help.

He also served on the Board of the Molly Bish Institute for Child Health and Safety.

Mr. Sampson is past president and a member of the Board of Directors of Shrewsbury Youth and Family Services and is a past president and current member of the board of the Shrewsbury Credit Union. He served as an advisor to the Police Explorer program through the Shrewsbury Police Department. He has participated in the Dana Farber Cancer Institute Jimmy Fund Walk for the past 17 years on behalf of the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police.

QCC offers an affordable education with quality instructors for students who might not otherwise have the opportunity to attend college, Mr. Sampson said. He recommends QCC to others, and both his daughter and son have taken courses at the college.

He recently spoke at QCC to the Criminal Justice Club, to about 40 students. He said he enjoys mentoring students.  As principal of Public Safety Consultants, he frequently works with applicants for careers in law enforcement and he emphasizes the important of a quality education.