Wenham Police Chief Perkins To Retire After 35 Years

WENHAM, MA — Wenham's Police Chief Thomas Perkins will retire after over three decades of service in the department.

Perkins is a born and raised Wenham resident and has served the police department for 35 years. He has served as the top officer for the department since 2012. Perkins will retire on May 1.

He joined the Wenham Police Department in 1986 as an auxiliary officer and went on to serve as a reserve officer a year later, then became a full-time officer with the department in 1989.

Perkins received numerous awards and commendations, including praise for his response to a car crash in June 1997, where he jumped into a motor vehicle that was on its side to help protect and render aid to an 80-year-old man with a heart condition and a pacemaker.

Perkins was promoted to sergeant in 2005 and captain in 2008. Some notable moments in his career in leadership roles include a microburst in August 2005 where he stepped in to help with the town’s emergency response. Though there was reported property damage, no one was injured during the storm.

Perkins come from a line of public servants. His father, Cal Perkins, is a retired Fire Chief for the Wenham Fire Department and his brother, Ryan Davis, is a sergeant for the Essex Police Department.

During his time with the department, Chief Perkins volunteered for programs and organizations in town including the Cub Scouts, Toys-4-Tots and the Special Olympics. After he retires, Chief Perkins is looking forward to spending more time with his family and boating along the North Shore.

“We have been lucky to have such a strong and dedicated leader among our ranks, one who has helped the department operate at its fullest potential,” Deputy Chief Kevin DiNapoli said. “It has been a privilege and a pleasure to serve alongside him, and it will be a bittersweet day on May 1. We wish him all the best during his well-deserved retirement and thank him for his many years of service to the Town of Wenham.”

Deputy Chief DiNapoli was chosen as the next chief for the department in November 2020 and will start in his new role on May 1.