Retired Wellesley Police Chief Dies

WELLESLEY, MA — The former head of the Wellesley Police Department has passed away.

Retired Police Chief Ernest ‘Joe’ Gagnon passed away on Aug. 21, 2018, in Venice, Florida. He was 82 years old and a 34-year veteran of the police department.

Chief Gagnon was a member of the United States Marine Corps for nine years prior to becoming a police officer in Wellesley. He was was named a patrolman in April 1965, promoted to sergeant in December, 1983, and was named the department's first deputy police chief in December 1993. He became the Wellesley Police Department’s first Deputy Police Chief when the position was created in December of 1993.

Gagnon was named the police chief by the Board of Selectmen on Oct. 14, 1997 and held the position until his retirement in November 1999, according to the Wellesley Police Department.

Gagnon is survived by by his son Daniel Gagnon of Concord, New Hampshire; daughter Cheryl Dosdall (Jeff) of Wellesley; son Francis Gagnon (Barbara) of Natick; daughter Catherine Smith of Dudley; sister Ellen O’Clair (Sam) of Westford; grandchildren Robert (Samira), Krystel, Andrew (Laura), Laura (John), Ashely, Michael and Christian; and 10 great-grandchildren - Isaiah, Elijah, Ryan, Dylan, Layla, Grayson, Everleigh, Shane, Sydney and Jackson and many nieces and nephews, according to his obituary.

A celebration of life for Chief Gagnon will be held at a later date. The Wellesley Police Department will be wearing mourning bands on their badges to honor Chief Gagnon.

Image via Wellesley Police Department