Decorated Army Combat Veteran and Distinguished Police Officer to Succeed Chief David Clark Upon His Retirement Next Spring
READING — Town Manager Jayne Wellman, Select Board Chair Melissa Murphy and Police Chief David Clark are proud to report that Deputy Chief Christine Amendola has been chosen tonight by the Reading Select Board to serve as the Town’s next Chief of Police.
“I knew at the age of 11 that I wanted to become a police officer. Growing up, I watched my hero — my grandfather — go to work every day as a Boston Police Officer. He was the kindest, funniest and most helpful man I have ever known. To me, he represented what being a police officer was all about — helping others, keeping people safe, and making a difference in someone’s life when they needed you,” Amendola wrote in her letter of interest in the position in August. “As I look toward the future of the Reading Police Department, I believe our greatest responsibility is to continue building an organization where people want to work, where employees are proud of the service they provide, and where our community remains confident in its police department.”
Amendola received her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice in 2015 from the University of Massachusetts Lowell and earned a master’s degree in criminal justice in 2024 from the American Military Institute.
She joined the Reading Police Department in 2006 as a patrol officer and served as a field training officer and rape aggression defense instructor. She was promoted to sergeant in 2014, lieutenant in 2016 and deputy chief in 2021.
Amendola has had a most-distinguished career so far. Earlier this year, she graduated from the well-regarded Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) Senior Management Institute for Police. She also holds a Master Leadership certification from the Massachusetts Municipal Police Training Committee (MPTC), among many other certifications she has earned and coursework she has completed during her career.
Amendola is a U.S. Army combat veteran who served as a military police officer. She joined the Army in 1999 at age 17. During her service, Army Staff Sergeant Christine Amendola of the 342nd Military Police Detachment was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for her contribution to Operation Enduring Freedom during a deployment to Afghanistan in 2010 and 2011.
She has also been awarded the Army Commendation Medal for her service in 2003 during a deployment to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom with 2nd Battalion, 94th Military Police Company. She received her Combat Action Badge in Iraq. She also deployed to Bosnia from July 2000 to May 2001.
She also received the Army Achievement Medal three times: in 2001, 2004 and 2007. She is also certified as an airborne parachutist and received special anti-terrorism training.
As a Reading police officer, Amendola has also received advanced training from FBI-LEEDA and she serves on the board of the MPTC, helping set training standards for police statewide. She is also an assessor with the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission (MPAC) and a mentor with the Massachusetts Association of Women in Law Enforcement (MAWLE).
“Deputy Amendola is a distinguished police officer, public servant, war hero, mentor and role model, and we are fortunate to have such a qualified candidate for Chief of Police waiting in our ranks,” Town Manager Wellman said. “I am proud to work with her and to welcome her in 2027 as Reading’s next chief.”
On July 14, Chief David Clark announced his intention to retire on May 10, 2027, after 32 years of service to the Town of Reading. During that time, he has overseen a period of stability and modernization within the department. During his tenure, first as Acting Chief of Police in 2018 and then as Chief of Police beginning Feb. 19, 2020, Chief Clark, a Reading native who joined the department in 1995, oversaw a period of innovation, adding specialized K-9, drone, and comfort dog units to the department as well as its mental health clinician and increased training for officers on modern de-escalation tactics.
“I was proud to offer my unequivocal recommendation for Deputy Chief Christine Amendola to serve as the next Chief of Police for the Reading Police Department,” Chief Clark said. “You will not find a more qualified, more prepared, or more respected candidate for this position.”
Chief Amendola is expected to begin in her new role immediately after Chief Clark’s retirement in May.
