Wade Cochran of Waterford, former chief of police for the town of Norwich, has been appointed enforcement and safety director at the state Department of Motor Vehicles. He succeeds Anthony Facos, who served approximately three years in the position before departing earlier this summer.
Cochran was selected in part due to his leadership experience and forward thinking about the use of modern policing, transparency and collaboration with mental-health and other agencies, private partners and other first responders to support the changing enforcement environment.
“Director Cochran has dedicated his career to law enforcement, and his extensive knowledge and experience will benefit the DMV and Vermonters,” Commissioner Wanda Minoli said. “We warmly welcome him to the DMV and the state of Vermont.”
Cochran had served as Norwich police chief since October. Prior to that, he was employed for more than 17 years at the Montpelier Police Department as a detective sergeant.