Brookline Police Detective Retires After 25 Years Of Service

The officer was viewed as a mentor figure throughout his tenure, according to the department.

By Benjamin Pierce, Patch Staff

Aug 19, 2026 10:59 AM EDT

Wagner was consistently praised by supervisors for going above and beyond his regular duties. (Jenna Fisher/Patch)

BROOKLINE, MA — A longtime member of the police department has called it a career after more than three decades in law enforcement, including 25 years serving the Brookline community.

Detective David Wagner is retiring after 25 years with the Brookline Police Department, according to the department. Before joining the Brookline police, Wagner served for more than 12 years as a Norfolk County Sheriff's deputy, bringing his law enforcement career to more than 37 years.

Throughout his career in Brookline, Wagner was praised by supervisors for going above and beyond his regular duties and maintained positive relationships with community members, the department said. He was named Brookline's Police Officer of the Year for 2014 for his outstanding work throughout the year. Wagner and Sgt. Russell O'Neill also received their fifth commendation and recognition award for excellence in work performance and professionalism.

He later served in the department's Detective Division, where he was assigned to evidence and property. His work included serving as the lead investigator into a suspicious fire at a Woodland Road home in 2022 that was being investigated as a potential arson. Police at the time asked residents with information or surveillance footage from the area to contact Wagner as investigators worked to determine what happened.

His work also extended beyond investigations. In 2018, Wagner encountered a young boy who was staying in the area while awaiting heart surgery at Boston Children's Hospital. After learning about the boy's situation, Wagner helped arrange a police ride for the boy and his mother. Following the surgery, police put together a care package for the boy and invited him to tour the police station, where Wagner and Officer Kevin Fallon later helped bring him for the visit.

In 2017, Wagner was also among a group of Brookline officers recognized for their work in connection with the arrests of two people accused of a violent crime.

Colleagues reportedly respected Wagner, with many looking to him as a mentor during his tenure with the department. Police officials said his decades of law enforcement experience offered his colleagues a new and progressive style of policing that they continue to carry with them today.

The department thanked Wagner for his years of service and wished him well in retirement.

"Thank you, Dave, for being a role model, mentor, and a friend," the department said. "On behalf of Chief Paster, we wish you a very happy retirement."