Melrose Police Chief retires, ending decades-long career

MELROSE, Mass. — Melrose Police Chief Michael L. Lyle will work his final shift on Wednesday. Lyle joined the Melrose Police Department in 1986 as a rookie patrol officer and became chief in 2007. He announced his retirement in March. State law requires that police officers, correction officers and firefighters retire at the age of 65. Lyle turned 65 earlier this month.

In a farewell message to residents, Lyle wrote:

Our next chief is lucky to have the opportunity to lead the Melrose Police Department. The men and women of this agency are highly skilled and dedicated officers and civilians at every level. Thank you for allowing me to serve the community and citizens of Melrose as Chief.

My advice to the next chief would be to embrace the community and support the people of this great department. Set goals every day, and see how they are accomplished.

Policing has evolved as our society has. I watched us go from pen and paper to computers and tablets. I walked a beat, calling into the station on those ubiquitous blue, hard-wired call boxes.

I cherished my work as a Melrose Police officer and dedicated most of my adult life to this one agency. My next chapter is just starting, and we will see where life takes me. Honestly, I feel that policing is the best job in the world if you approach it right mindset. That is one of the things that kept me going for so long--our officers and civilian staff. Every day, they come into work with just that mindset. I will miss walking into the station in the morning and seeing that buzz of activity and energy.

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