Amherst Police Chief To Retire

Amherst Police Chief Peter Lyon will be retiring after over three decades of service to the community.

Lyon will leave the Amherst Police at the end of October after 32 years as a full-time officer at the station. The Amherst Board of Selectmen will soon choose a new police chief, with Lyon suggesting an internal candidate for the position.

The retiring chief said he is a “little bit melancholy” about leaving his longtime career with Amherst Police, but he is looking forward to spending more time with his family and finishing up hobbies and projects around the house.

“I am looking forward to having evenings and weekends to myself,” said Lyon in a phone interview on Tuesday, “but it is hard to give up something I have invested 32 years of my life into.”

Lyon joined the Amherst Police in 1980 on the same day of his graduation from the University of Maine and has been with the department ever since.

He said that he is proud of his career in Amherst and the service he has been able to provide to the community. Looking back he is most proud of the department’s efforts to help kids through difficult times in their lives, and the larger investigations that have helped keep the community safe.

The police chief said he is especially proud of the fact that he was able to get school resource officers into two Amherst schools.

“I’ve always felt very honored to have had the opportunity to work in Amherst,” he said.

Selectman George Infanti said in an email that Lyon has set a great example throughout his career here in Amherst.

"Chief Lyon has been a great asset to our town and will be missed. Upon becoming Chief he had some very large shoes to fill and has done so admirably. As a lifetime resident and involved with local law enforcement since high school he has set an excellent example for his officers and patrolmen, never asking them to do something he has not or would not do himself. He will be missed and I wish him all the best of luck in his retirement. I know he will always be available if we need him and should be very proud of what he has accomplished within the department and our town.

Chair Bruce Bowler said in an email that the town has benefitted from Lyon's years of service.

"Chief Lyon continued the tradition of the Amherst Police Department, which was first started under the late Chief John Osborne and continued with Chief Gary MacGuire of being one of the top if not the top Police Departments in the region. Peter was the beneficiary, of having worked under these two great chiefs. During Peter’s years on the police department and my years of working with him as a selectman, he has been nothing, but a total Professional. I am sorry to see Peter retiring, but he has earned it and I want to wish him the best of luck and to enjoy his retirement from law enforcement. Thank you Chief for all you have done for the town and you will be missed not only by me, but by all.”

Town Administrator Jim O'Mara also wishes Lyon the best of luck and thanks him for his work in the community.

“I have known Chief Lyon for 19 years and have always found him to be consummate law enforcement professional. His retirement is a loss to the department and the community. Having put others ahead of himself for so many years, it is nice to see him putting himself and his family first. I happy for him and wish him the best for the future,” said Jim O’Mara in an email.