Waltham Police Chief Keith MacPherson Retires After 41 Years

WALTHAM, MA — Waltham Police Chief Keith MacPherson, 64, retired unexpectedly Wednesday after seven years as chief and 41 with the Waltham Police Department.

"You have set a good example for all of us in the department to follow," the department said in a statement. "Thank you for your tenacity, drive, tireless time, and commitment to the police department and Waltham community."

The Waltham native became chief in February 2014 after serving as deputy chief, and then acting chief when his predecessor, former police chief Thomas LaCroix, was arrested and charged with assaulting his wife in June 2012. LaCroix later resigned after he was convicted.

MacPherson came in with a goal to help improve the department's image and community relations, he told Wicked Local at the time.

Throughout the past seven years, he's had a full plate. From handling a gruesome fatal stabbing in 2014 (the woman's husband was eventually convicted) to a rash of bomb threats that plagued the city from 2016 to 2017 (the cyberstalker was sentenced to 18 years).

More recently, he's presided over the investigation over the 11 unprovoked, random violent attacks on men in Waltham in November 2020. No arrests have been made in that case yet and there's a $5,000 reward for the person or persons responsible.

The appointment for chief of police in Waltham is lifelong, provided “good behavior or until such person is removed by the mayor for just cause, resigns or is retired under applicable provisions of the law,” according to city ordinance.

His retirement came as a surprise to some city officials, who did not know until after he had retired. The mayor did not respond to request for comment.

Deputy Chief Kevin O'Connell will likely become acting chief while the mayor searches for a permanent replacement for MacPherson. Patch has reached out to O'Connell to confirm.

MacPherson's retirement was listed Feb. 12 on the agenda for the Waltham Retirement Board Meeting Feb. 17 along with firefighter Dwight Anderson and Elizabeth Hamalainen who worked at the high school.

Jenna Fisher is a news reporter for Patch. Got a tip? She can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna). Have a something you'd like posted on the Patch? Here's how.