After decades of serving the town — from summers at the Public Works Department to his tenure at the helm of the Belmont Police Department — Chief James MacIsaac plans to retire from the role, effective Aug. 25.
“I have been truly fortunate to call the town of Belmont both my home and place of work,” MacIsaac wrote in a letter to the Select Board, dated Aug. 6, announcing his decision to retire from the position. In an email to The Voice, MacIsaac said he starts his new role as the first director of Security and Safety at The Middlesex School.
The Middlesex School is an independent, college-preparatory boarding and day school in Concord, Mass.
The announcement comes one year into the three-year contract signed last year. The contract, which went into effect January 1, 2025, was set to expire Dec. 31, 2027. He earned an annual base pay of $225,000. Effective July 1 of this year, MacIsaac is allowed to sell back to the town a maximum of 40 hours of vacation time annually, to be paid prior to the end of the fiscal year.
According to the contract, in a situation where the chief voluntarily terminates his position before that date, a minimum notice of 60 days is required unless otherwise agreed upon between him and the town.
MacIsaac joined the department as a police officer in 1999. Over the years, he advanced through the ranks and was named chief in 2020.
“Under Chief MacIsaac’s leadership, the department has reached several key milestones, most notably, our successful removal from Civil Service,” Town Administrator Patrice Garvin said in an email to town staff. “This transformative achievement positions the department for greater flexibility, modernization, and long-term growth, and will reshape how we serve the public for decades to come. While we are sad to see him retire, we are also incredibly grateful for his decades of service and proud to celebrate this well-earned milestone.”
According to Garvin, the Select Board is expected to discuss the process for finding MacIsaac’s replacement at its next meeting.
In addition to his work at the police department, MacIsaac served as an assistant football coach at Belmont High School for seven years. In 2014, he founded the Belmont Middle School Football Program for seventh- and eighth-graders.
“Belmont has been the place I raised my three children, all of whom were fortunate to attend the Belmont Public Schools. This community has not only been a part of my life, it has been my life for most of my adult years,” he wrote. “Serving the town of Belmont has been the honor of a lifetime, and I am deeply grateful for the trust, support, and friendships I have experienced along the way.”
