Wayland Police Chief Resigning, Town To Release Investigation

WAYLAND, MA — Wayland police chief Sean Gibbons will resign in December following an investigation into unspecified job performance issues that has been ongoing since April.

The town released a short statement about the resignation Saturday, following several weeks of closed-door meetings between Gibbons and the Select Board. Gibbons will officially step down on Dec. 20, but has one week to revoke his acceptance of a settlement. The town's statement said an investigation into Gibbons' performance issues will be made public after that seven-day period.

"It is the town’s sincere belief that the course taken was done in the best interests of the town, the police department and the residents of Wayland," the statement said.

Gibbons, who joined Wayland police in 2002, was hired in December 2021 as the new chief. Without explanation, he was placed on leave on March 31. The former acting town manager, Stephen Crane, declined to say why Gibbons was placed on leave, and fought to withhold public records about the matter.

The Secretary of the Commonwealth's office ordered Wayland to hand over some records to Wayland Patch related to Gibbons' departure on Nov. 14. The records showed that Gibbons was barred from town property, and was told in a March 31 letter the town would conduct an "investigation of your performance as an employee of the town of Wayland." Pembroke attorney Jamie Kenney was hired to conduct the investigation.

Wayland police Lt. Ed Burman has been the acting chief since April.

Read previous coverage:

• Wayland Releases Documents Related To Chief's Sudden Departure
• State Orders Wayland To Hand Over Records Related To Chief's Departure
• Wayland Has New Police Chief After Yearlong Search