CLINTON – A former Pittsfield police detective on Tuesday was named Clinton’s chief.

Leonard Macdaid, 39, was chosen from four candidates to succeed Dana McInnis as the town’s chief and lone patrol officer. He is scheduled to begin work Monday at an annual salary of $26,500.

Macdaid, who lives in Pittsfield with his family, said the move to Clinton was a logical next step. He has worked for the Somerset County Sheriff’s Department and for police departments in Lewiston and Pittsfield during his 16-year career.

Leading a small-town department has been one of his goals.

“I’m looking forward to doing a lot of things with the community,” Macdaid said Tuesday night, shortly after selectmen confirmed his nomination.

Town Manager Christina Therrien said Macdaid emerged as best of two finalists in a scoring process that took into account several factors, including candidates’ experience, education and motivation.

She said both candidates were highly qualified, and she could have worked well with either one. In the end, Macdaid finished a couple of points higher than his rival.

“It was a tough, tough decision,” Therrien said.

Macdaid began his career with the Lewiston Police Department in the mid-1980s, after serving four years in the Navy. In Lewiston, he served as a community officer and investigator before moving to the Somerset County Sheriff’s Department in 1992.

During his three years with the agency, he served as a patrol deputy, juvenile officer and detective. He held similar positions after moving to the Pittsfield Police Department five years ago.

In June, Macdaid briefly left law enforcement for a job with better health benefits than the town of Pittsfield offers. While he said he enjoyed working as a delivery driver for Land-Air Express in Pittsfield, he said the Clinton job gave him a chance to get back into police work.

Macdaid, who will serve a 90-day probation, said he hopes to introduce programs aimed at keeping children out of trouble. He said he would divide his 40-hour week between investigating crimes and interacting with the community.

“I like a small town the best. It blends with my personality,” said Macdaid, who recently won a seat on the Pittsfield Town Council. “I like to be able to know the people I’m working with.”

Clinton has been without a full-time chief since the end of August, when McInnis took a job outside of law enforcement after 17 months in town.

Although McInnis has stayed on part time and helped with the search, the town has relied on the Maine State Police and Kennebec County Sheriff’s Department for emergency coverage.

McInnis became the town’s police chief in March 1999, filling a job that had gone vacant for nine months.

In the summer of 1998, the town’s chief and three part-time officers all quit after voters nearly eliminated funding for the department. His low-key style helped restore confidence.

McInnis said Tuesday night he is confident Macdaid will serve the town well.

“He will continue what I started in the town,” McInnis said. “He will make a good fit.”