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February 2026
NEWFOUNDLAKELIFE.COM
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Community
Brief bios of the three men showed that Buffington has 20 years of law enforcement expe- rience, the last five in Plymouth, the town where he grew up. Since joining Plymouth PD, he has served as Detective Sergeant, Deputy Chief under Hutchins, Interim Chief, and now holds the honor of being their next Chief of Police.
Deputy Chief Diamond, who also grew up in Plymouth, has 30 years of law enforcement expe- rience. Ten years ago, he made the move to the Plymouth Police Departmen,t where he served as a Patrol Officer and was later pro- moted to Patrol Sergeant.
Lieutenant Keeler transferred to Plymouth four years ago as a Detective Sergeant, has been in- volved in law enforcement for 13 years, and, like the other two, also has a distinguished record both in Plymouth and other communities he has served.
“We are fortunate to have such high-caliber professionals within our ranks. These promotions ensure that Plymouth Police De- partment remains a leader in law enforcement excellence,” Wedon said.
PLYMOUTH PD
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in a heartfelt letter, in which he discussed his medical emergency in August that resulted in three months of medical care and re- habilitation.
“Earlier this year, I experi- enced a significant health issue when I suffered a stroke, which led to serious medical complica- tions,” the chief wrote. “I received care at Dartmouth and later con- tinued my recovery at Encompass Rehabilitation. I am grateful to say that I am now home and con- tinuing to heal.”
He also took time to express his gratitude to all who stood by him in that lengthy and arduous process.
“I want to sincerely thank everyone for the generous dona- tions, messages, and unwaver- ing support you have shown me throughout my career and during my recovery. It has meant more than I can put into words.”
Hutchins went on to state that serving as the Chief of Police for the Town of Plymouth has been one of the greatest honors of his life and that he will always be
grateful for the trust and support of the community during his ca- reer. The time has come, however, for him to start a new chapter in his life.
“After much thought, and in consultation with my family and doctors, I have made the difficult decision to retire and today [Dec. 31] was my last day,” Hutchins announced that evening, a deci- sion he said he hoped would help the Plymouth Police Department move forward with strong and consistent leadership.
The next day, Town Admin- istrator Scott Wedon followed Hutchins’ announcement with a press release from both him and the Board of Selectmen. Their letter addressed what the next step for the Plymouth Police Department would be and who would lead them now into the years to come, news that was met with a welcome reaction from the community.
On January 1, 2026, they said, Nate Buffington, Rod Diamond, and Bryan Keeler all received of- ficial promotions to lead the de- partment and oversee the safety of the town.
As the most recent Deputy
Photo
Courtesy of Plymouth Police Department
From left to right) the department’s newly promoted Lieutenant Bryan Keeler, Chief Nate Buffington and Deputy Chief Rod Diamond were sworn in for their new leadership roles on January 1st.
Chief, Nate Buffington also served as Interim Chief during Hutchin’s medical leave, and the Board of Selectmen officially swore him in as the new Chief of Police.
Filling Buffington’s former role, the board then promoted Patrol Sergeant Rod Diamond to that position while Det. Sergeant Bryan Keeler was promoted to Lieutenant.
“These promotions come at a pivotal time for the Plymouth Po- lice Department as the town con- tinues to strengthen its leadership
team and advance its commit- ment to professional, communi- ty-focused policing,” said Wedon.
As part of their announce- ment, the selectboard also spoke of the unwavering commitment to the safety and well-being of residents of Plymouth that each of the three men has shown over the years.
“Each has demonstrated ex- ceptional leadership, professional integrity, and a deep understand- ing of the unique needs of our community,” they said.
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