RANGELEY – After seven years overseeing public safety around the mountains and lakes of Rangeley, police Chief Phil Weymouth is moving south to head the Fryeburg Police Department.

Weymouth will become Fryeburg’s full-time chief Sept. 15, replacing Wayne Brooking.

Weymouth will oversee four full-time officers, four reserve officers and four summer Saco River patrol officers.

Weymouth was among 11 candidates who applied for the job, Fryeburg Town Manager Martin Krauter said Tuesday.

An independent interview committee, separate from selectmen and the town manager, recommended Weymouth for the job, Krauter said.

“I agreed with them and selectmen accepted the recommendation Thursday,” he said.

Weymouth will start at a salary of $48,000, Krauter said.

“I really didn’t go looking for the job. I was kind of testing the waters and the town of Fryeburg made a better offer,” Weymouth said.

He said it was not a financial decision. He’ll be making a bit more salary than he’s been paid in Rangeley, but it’s a new challenge in a growing town and they think he can help them, Weymouth said.

“The people I’ve met over there so far are very professional,” he said.

Most important, he said, is they appear to “like me” and “are already be supportive of me. They appreciate me.”

Fryeburg, an Oxford County town on the New Hampshire border, has 3,500 residents but its population swells seasonally, especially during Fryeburg Fair week in the fall.

Rangeley selectmen plan to meet Tuesday night and are scheduled to discuss options of appointing an interim chief.

Weymouth has 25 years of experience in law enforcement. He worked his way up in the York County Sheriff’s Department from patrol deputy to lieutenant and human resource officer.

Since he became Rangeley’s police chief, Weymouth said, he has built the department up from scratch by implementing procedures and increasing the force to two full-time officers plus the chief, as well as reserve officers. He also added computer technology and video cameras, among other improvements.

“I’m very happy of my accomplishments here,” Weymouth said.