On March 1,  1999, Chief Richard Kane was appointed as Chief of Police for the Town of Exeter. He is a firm believer in proactive community policing and bringing the officer and the community together. 

Chief Kane began his career in law enforcement at the Exeter Police Department in 1981. He rose rapidly through the ranks holding every position within the department. As a longtime resident of Exeter, he has enjoyed serving in the town he and his family call home. Chief Kane active in the Exeter community being a member of the Exeter Knights of Columbus, and a 8 year coach for the Exeter Seahawk Football program. The chief is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, Rockingham County Chief's Association, FBI National Academy Association. He serves as president the board of directors of the Seacoast Emergency Response Team and is a member of the Red Cross Heroes Search Committee.. He is a graduate of College for Lifelong Learning with a bachelor degree in business management . He is a 1996 graduate of the National FBI Academy. In 1991 he attended the Command Institute at Babson College. He has attended numerous ant-terrorism training classes both in state and out of state. He is a member of the American College of Forensic Examining,  Level 4 certified in homeland security.

Chief Kane at the Main Street School in Exeter for Read Across America.

        Welcome to the web site of the Exeter Police Department. The Exeter Police Department is a full service police department in the seacoast region of New Hampshire.The Exeter Police Department can trace it's roots to the early 1600's when it consisted of a group of quasi officials that were given authority to collect revenues. It was not until the end of the revolutionary war that the first "constables" were elected to fulfill police duties. In 1844 a formal police department was established which gave officers the authority to "supervise the law and order". A police commission was established in 1895 which appointed a police superintendent and police officers until the police commission was disbanded in 1958.

        In 1979 the police department moved from the basement of the town hall into a new modern public safety complex on the corner of Bow Street and Court Street. The police department currently has 23 full time sworn personnel which has been maintained since the mid 1980's. It is estimated that the Exeter Police Department will handle approximately 22,000 calls for service in 2007.

        Exeter has a diverse population that consists of about 14,058 people within an area of 21.4 square miles. It is the revolutionary capital of the State of New Hampshire and the birth place of the Republican Party. The town of Exeter was founded in 1638, having a long and historical past.The original tract of land that made up the Town of Exeter was later divided up into the towns of Exeter, Brentwood, Raymond, Epping and Newmarket.The county seat was established in Exeter in 1771 and remained here until 1996.Exeter's past has included the manufacturing of ships, gunpowder, and textiles. Exeter is complimented by the presence of the Phillips Exeter Academy which maintains a student population of approximately 821 boarding students and 196 day students. It is located on 850 acres with about 100 buildings. We hope you enjoy your time on our site and that it is beneficial to you in answering any questions that you may have. Please feel free to offer suggestions on ways to improve our site.