LITTLETON — Police Chief Matthew Pinard will retire from a 32-year career in law enforcement on May 1, and will leave behind a police department that has grown and modernized since he first pinned on a badge.
Chief Pinard first took an oath in 1993, when he worked for his hometown Ayer Police Department as a reserve officer, while also attending the police academy.
After graduating from the academy, he worked for both Townsend and Ayer Police as a full-time patrol officer before being hired by Littleton Police in 2002. In Littleton, he climbed the ranks from patrol officer to detective and sergeant before being chosen to replace Chief Matthew King on June 27, 2018.
In his time with Littleton Police, the department grew from 18 to 24 officers.
Chief Pinard is a long-time motorcycle enthusiast, and has served as control chief of the Northeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council (NEMLEC) Motorcycle Unit, leading an elite team of motorcycle officers from around the region.
Chief Pinard spent eight years as Chief, and prioritized community policing, police legitimacy, restorative justice and alternative approaches to serving members of the community suffering from substance use disorders and mental illness.
Under his leadership, the Littleton Police Department began using body-worn cameras, began working with a co-responding mental health clinician, added its first comfort dog, and updated 911 services to run on a modern video-capable system. Chief Pinard once served as the department’s first School Resource Officer (SRO), and now the program has grown to include two SROs as police have increased their focus on school safety and positive youth interaction.
Reflecting on his years of service, Chief Pinard said police drastically increased their use of technology and training and preparedness over the course of his career, and also began to focus much more on officer wellness and mental health.
“We used to qualify with a firearm once a year, but now we’re qualifying three or four times a year, attending active shooter drills, training up our interview techniques, and attending numerous other trainings to ensure our officers are skilled and professional,” Chief Pinard said.
Chief Pinard spent his career being supported by his wife Laura, and his family.
“I am proud of everything that has been accomplished at the Littleton Police Department during my tenure here, but everything that we have accomplished was accomplished as a team,” said Chief Pinard. “I am grateful to the community leaders of Littleton for supporting law enforcement, and I am grateful to the sworn officers whose dedication to this community is second to none. To those who remain in law enforcement, please keep fighting the good fight. You’re doing the right thing.”
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