WILTON – Selectmen voted unanimously to hire Charles Keene of Jay as interim police chief on Monday night.

The town had been looking for someone to serve in the position since early November, when outgoing Chief Wayne Gallant won the Oxford County sheriff’s race. Gallant’s last day in Wilton is today.

Keene, a retired police officer who now operates an excavation business, worked for more than 30 years in law enforcement, most recently as a sergeant in Jay, according to a letter provided to selectmen by Town Manager Peter Nielsen. He also served as Livermore Falls’ police chief.

Hired as a part-time town employee, Keene will be paid $20 per hour without benefits, Nielsen said Monday. He is slated to begin today, but said the town agreed to allow him flexible hours for the first few weeks in the position, so that he can fulfill excavation commitments.

Selectmen also met with Gallant Monday to hear what he had to say about what the department needs in a new chief.

Finding someone with good investigative skills is essential, Gallant said, because Wilton’s four other full-time officers still need more training in investigative techniques. Somebody who cares about community policing – getting the department out into the town – would also be an asset, he said.

Wilton needs a chief who will continue to train the officers, Gallant said. As the only member of the department with the training to investigate child-sexual-abuse cases, the town will need to rely on Franklin County detectives for those cases. Some local towns – including Mexico, Rumford and Dixfield – share one detective specializing in family violence issues, Gallant said, which might be a good option for Wilton.

All in all, Gallant told selectmen, the department is doing well, but needs to continue growing the way it has since he came on board.

Selectmen discussed raising reserve officers’ pay and hiring a part-time paid secretary for the department, and agreed to discuss those issues again at a later meeting.