President Barack Obama has nominated a state police detective lieutenant from Agawam to be the next U.S. Marshal in Massachusetts.

The White House says in a statement released Wednesday that John
Gibbons, a 30-year veteran of the state police, has dedicated his
career to protecting the public and will be relentless in pursuit
of justice.

Gibbons, a graduate of American International College in
Springfield, has spent 26 years in the State Police Division of
Investigations and managed the Western Massachusetts Gang Task
Force.

In July, the late U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy and his colleague,
John Kerry, nominated Gibbons to become a member of the nation's
oldest federal law enforcement agency. The president often heeds
the recommendation of a state's senior senator.

Kerry and Kennedy's interim replacement, Sen. Paul G. Kirk Jr.,
congratulated Gibbons, whose nominations awaits Senate
confirmation.