Arlington Police Chief Frederick Ryan To Retire

ARLINGTON, MA – Arlington Police Chief Frederick Ryan will retire in early January, Town Manager Adam Chapdelaine announced Tuesday. The Arlington native's 33-year law enforcement career includes two decades as the town's chief of police.

"Chief Ryan is a fixture in our community," Chapdelaine said in a statement. "Born and raised in Arlington, he was appointed police chief in 1999 and departs a very different law enforcement agency than he found 20 years ago in a community that has experienced enormous growth and change over the same time period."

Under Ryan's leadership, the Arlington Police Department achieved full state accreditation for the first time in 2008. He made community policing a cornerstone of his administration, leading to new approaches to crime, addiction and recovery, mental health and procedural justice, Chapdelaine said.

During Ryan's tenure, the department became one of the first in the state to bring in a mental health clinician. He also worked with the Police Assisted Addiction and Recovery Initiative to change how law enforcement responds to substance use disorders.

"Arlington is one of the most desirable places to live, learn and work in New England, and that is in no small part a function of our police department’s efforts to improve the quality of life here each and everyday," Chapdelaine said.

Chapdelaine thanked Ryan for his years of service, calling him a "true friend." His office will develop an interim plan for leading the department, as well as a long-term process for recruiting a permanent chief, in the coming weeks.

Submitted by town of Arlington