EASTHAMPTON — Police Chief Bruce W. McMahon announced Monday that he will retire from the city’s force in October.
After serving 11 years as chief, McMahon’s last day on the job will be Oct. 27.
McMahon, who also turned 57 Monday, joined the department as a special police officer in 1979 and, over a career that has spanned four decades, has ascended the ranks from patrol officer to sergeant to captain, according to the department.
McMahon said he’s experienced “mixed emotions” in making his departure official.
“But I know it’s time to leave,” McMahon said in an interview. “I guess it’s hard to teach an old dog new tricks. If there’s any impetus, that would’ve been it. I’ve done a lot in my career. I’ve been here a long time, and it’s time to go.”
It’s the people at the department McMahon said he’ll miss the most.
“It’s a great group of people here,” he added. “It’s the camaraderie here I’m really going to miss.”
Northwestern District Attorney David E. Sullivan said Monday that McMahon has worked to develop a force that “has the community on the top of (its) mind.”
“He’s really been a vital person in developing community policing and making sure we have top-notch law enforcement,” Sullivan added. “I think the next chief will have the challenge of maintaining the tradition of excellence, (and keeping) the department well-funded and the morale high.”
McMahon said he’s looking forward to trading in phone calls in the dead of the night for more leisure time to accomplish yard work and traveling.
“It’s going to be a change of pace,” he said. “You have the daily routine and things you’re responsible for, and it weighs a lot on you when you’re responsible for the other people in here.”
In his letter announcing his retirement, sent Monday to Easthampton Mayor Karen Cadieux, McMahon sounded off on his appreciation for the department.
“The Easthampton Police Department is a special place with incredibly talented officers,” he wrote. “I am grateful to have been a part of it and proud to have served with all of the officers both past and present.”
The department, Cadieux said in an interview, is “second to none.”
“They are just a remarkable crew of the best public servants you can ever hope to have,” she added. McMahon “has the entire respect of our department and our community, and I’ve been so proud to have worked with him for 22 years.”
There’s been little discussion as far as McMahon’s successor, the mayor said, considering he only just announced his retirement, and his departure is still four months down the road.
“One step at a time,” Cadieux said. “We’ll work on that next.”
McMahon is a member of the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force executive board and the Law Enforcement Executive Development Association, according to the department. He has also served as an instructor at the Massachusetts Criminal Justice Training Council Police Academy.
Additionally, McMahon received the Medal of Valor award from the New England Association of Chiefs of Police, an American Legion Department of Massachusetts Medal of Valor as well as recognition from the U.S. Attorney’s office and numerous local awards.
Capt. Robert J. Alberti said, as hard as it is to see the chief go, McMahon’s retirement is a well-deserved one.
“He’s always been the, no matter what, ‘do the right thing’ kind of guy,” said Alberti, who became captain in October 2013. “I can tell you this — he’s the jedi master, he’s taught me well … he’s spent the better part of two and half years mentoring me. So I’ve had my own personal academy with the police chief.”
Michael Majchrowicz can be reached at mmajchrowicz@gazettenet.com or 413-585-5234.