Chief Terence M. Delehanty announced that Winthrop Police Lt. David E. Lessard retired this week from the Winthrop Police Department after nearly four decades of service to the community.
Lt. Lessard officially retired on Monday, July 8, after serving the Winthrop Police Department for 39 years. In that time, he served as the founding organizer of the department’s Citizen Police Academy.
He also served as the department’s Accreditation Manager, a role in which he oversaw and ensured Winthrop Police’s compliance with a wide-ranging set of law enforcement standards.
In addition, Lt. Lessard oversaw the former Winthrop Marine Unit and Harbor Patrol, implemented and launched the department’s first Mountain Bike Unit and spent the latter half of his career as the patrol shift commander. For the last five years of his career, Lt. Lessard also filled the role of president of the Winthrop Police Lieutenants’ Union.
“Lt. Lessard made an extraordinary impact on our department and was a steady presence in the community for the better part of the last half century,” Chief Delehanty said. “He will definitely be missed, but we wish him health and happiness as he embarks on his retirement.”
The department will host a formal retirement celebration for Lt. Lessard in the near future.