After more than four decades in law enforcement and over 15 years as Chief of the Hamilton Police Department, Chief Russell Stevens will retire on June 30, 2025, at the age of 60.
Chief Stevens, who became Hamilton’s police chief in 2009, is currently the longest-serving active police chief in Essex County. Prior to his time in Hamilton, he served as chief of staff to the colonel of the Connecticut State Police, overseeing a 1,600-officer department. He began his career in Sturbridge, Massachusetts.
During his tenure in Hamilton, Chief Stevens led a comprehensive reorganization of the police department, updated operational policies, and prioritized officer development by hiring and promoting every current officer on the force. He guided the department through the state accreditation process four times, making Hamilton one of the first departments on the North Shore to achieve this distinction.
Throughout his career, Stevens held leadership positions in several state policing organizations. He served as President of both the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association and the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission and continues to serve on their boards. He is also involved with the Massachusetts Municipal Police Training Institute and the Governor’s Community Policing and Behavioral Health Advisory Council.
Chief Stevens holds a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice and a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and teaches as an adjunct professor at Merrimack College.
Edward Guy, selected by the Hamilton Select Board, will succeed Chief Stevens and begin his transition in the coming weeks. Stevens will assist in the handoff to ensure continuity and familiarity for both the department and the community.
Following his retirement, Stevens plans to remain active in the field as a consultant and interim police chief as needed.
For information, contact Cyndi Farrell at the Hamilton Town Hall at [email protected].
