Brookline Police Lt. Phil Harrington To Retire After 35 Years

BROOKLINE, MA — After 35 years in the Brookline Police Department, Lt. Phil Harrington, who spent nearly a decade as a spokesperson for the department, is retiring.

His last day at work will be January 12. But he won't be going far.

"An opportunity to take on a newly created position at a local private school came my way," he told Patch.

Harrington will be head of safety and security in a newly created position at Dexter Southfield School, he said.

"It is very exciting to start something new and help it develop," he said. "I could not say no."

"The school staff seems great and our office has been working with them with some trainings. I have been blessed to complete 35 years in the department, and leave with my health. It’s a good time to move on and start a new chapter," he said.

While Harrington has been the public voice of the department for nine years, helping keep reporters up to date on everything from the Boston Marathon-related safety to rare instances of violence in town, he's also had some lighter times. You may remember the year he was on Brookline Interactive's Dancing with the Brookline Stars. He's also helped draw attention to campaigns to help children in need.

But he was also court liaison and worked patrol before that. His favorite part of the job over the years?

" I keep thinking back to the days of teaching the DARE program with Ronnie McNeil to the sixth graders in town. That was probably the most rewarding," he said. "I still see people around Town that say hi and tell me I was there DARE officer."

Harrington taught the dare program shortly after he got on the department from 1989 to 1995.

Patch reporter Jenna Fisher can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna).