Waterford— Police Chief Brett Mahoney presented the Board of Police Commissioners with a letter of retirement Monday night.

Mahoney, who has spent 26 years with the department, was named a lieutenant in 2005 and chief of police in 2015.  Mahoney's retirement is effective Oct. 29.

"I care deeply for the people that I worked with over the years, and want to make sure that I leave them in the best position to succeed as I turn over guidance of the agency to an interim Chief of Police," he said.

Monday night, Mahoney, 51, reflected on how welcoming, supportive and interactive the community is with the police department.

"I'll miss coming to work in a vibrant, engaging and funny atmosphere with people I truly love," said Mahoney, who declined to say why he was retiring.

Under Mahoney's leadership, the department has also engaged in multiple community outreach efforts, that which includes producing a series of videos with Waterford Youth and Family Services meant to advertise a turkey drive in 2020 and iniating a program in 2019 that allowed officers to learn about those in the community who have dementia, Alzheimer's or other cognitive disorders. The police department is currently selling pink badges to fundraise money for local breast cancer foundations.

Commissioners on Monday discussed the future of the police chief's position with town attorneys.

They agreed to hold a special meeting on Wednesday at 2 p.m. at the police station and via zoom to officially accept Mahoney's retirement and to choose an interim police chief. Mahoney will speak at the meeting and provide his recommendations.

First Selectman Rob Brule said that in the more than 50 years since the police department was established, there have only been two or three police chiefs.

Brule said Mahoney's efforts have focused on leading the police department into a "21st century model" with an emphasis on transparency such as through the use of a body-worn camera program, referring to April of this year when cameras were provided to all officers.

"We sincerely thank Chief Mahoney for his dedicated service to the Town of Waterford and wish him and his family nothing but the very best in retirement," said Brule.