The Wellesley Police Department has announced that retired Police Chief Ernest ‘Joe’ Gagnon passed away on August 21 in Venice, Florida at the age of 82. Chief Gagnon served as a Wellesley Police Officer for 34 years.
Chief Gagnon was a member of the United States Marine Corps for 9 years prior to becoming a Wellesley Police officer. He was appointed to the department as a patrolman in April of 1965, earned a promotion to sergeant in December of 1983, then became the Wellesley Police Department’s first Deputy Police Chief when the position was created in December of 1993.
Gagnon was appointed as Chief of the Wellesley Police Department by the Board of Selectmen on October 14, 1997. He retired from the department in November of 1999 and was succeeded by Terry Cunningham.
A celebration of life for Chief Gagnon will be held at a later date. The Wellesley Police Department will be wearing mourning bands on our badges to honor Chief Gagnon’s service to the community.
