Charlie Breitrose
Watertown Police Chief Edward Deveau, center, speaking to the Town Council.
Watertown Police Chief Edward Deveau will retire this summer, he told the Town Council and others on Thursday.
Deveau joined the Police Department in 1983 and has been chief since Sept. 4, 2001. His time as the top cop included the dramatic events of April 19, 2013, when Watertown Police officers engaged the Boston Marathon Bombers on the streets of East Watertown in which offices exchanged gunfire and were attacked by homemade bombs.
Town Manager Michael Driscoll sent a letter to Town Councilors saying that Deveau had met with him on Wednesday to tell him he planned to retire. Deveau reached out to Councilors, too.
“It has been a Honor to be your Police Chief for the past fourteen years,” Deveau wrote in an email.
Town Councilor Cecilia Lenk sent out an email message about Deveau’s decision.
“He will be leaving in early July,” Lenk said. “Chief Deveau has worked tirelessly for Watertown and I wish him all the best in the future.”
Deveau grew up in Watertown and graduated from Watertown High School.