Brookline Police Chief Steps Down Abruptly

BROOKLINE, MA — Brookline Police Chief Andrew Lipson abruptly announced his resignation Friday, shocking a number of people in the community.

"It's not good news," Select Board Chair Bernard Greene told Patch. "I was shocked and surprised. I don't know what really provoked that."

The news comes just weeks after Newton's Police Chief announced he was stepping down and as police departments across the state have been defending their departments amid calls for reform and budget tightening. The Brookline Police Department survived two votes on June 30 that proposed to cut more than $1 million and $2 million from its budget. Instead, the town's legislative body of more than 240 elected representatives choose not to make such major slashes in the $17 million budget.

Greene said Lipson represents the type of police chief that could get Brookline through the current climate, and make any needed changes without "being foolish" about the funding.

"Town Meeting made clear we did not want to destroy the police department," said Greene referring to a vote Tuesday night that did not support major cuts in the police department. "The quality here is not perfect but it's much better than most. We still have work to do to figure out what we need to do to make it even better. That could be an exciting opportunity for a police department and its leadership, and it's going to be more difficult to get there without Lipson."

It's not clear how soon someone will replace him.

"We're going to have to now carefully figure out how to reestablish the leadership in the police department to move forward with reimagining the department," said Greene who added that it likely would not be a revolutionary change but something that makes sense within the context of Brookline.

Lipson said he would like to return to the ranks of the Brookline police force as a deputy superintendent in his resignation letter.

Patch reached out to Lipson, but was told he will be out of office until July 20.

Related:

• Newton Police Chief David MacDonald To Step Down
• Newton Mayor Taps Retired Police Chief After MacDonald ...
• Brookline Chief Of Police? Andy Lipson, Select ...
• Brookline's Chief Andy Lipson On His First Week: Q&A

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). Have a press release you'd like posted on the Patch? Here's how to post a press release, a column, event or opinion piece.