Police chief to retire his badge

He didn't dream about becoming a police officer as a child, and acknowledged that it was just something he "fell into."

But next month, Police Chief Frank Garvin of Chelsea will say goodbye to a three-decade law-enforcement career, including the last six years as the head of the department.

Garvin, who just turned 60, said that his contract with the city is up in November and that "it was time to go."

"I'm looking into a couple of things I can do," Garvin said. "I'm going to take time off; it's been a long time since I've taken some time off."

His successor will be chosen from among three captains and will be on the job by the end of next month, Garvin said.

Garvin is the third and longest-serving chief to lead the department since Chelsea emerged from state receivership in 1995. He also is the only chief since the receivership to have been selected from among the ranks in Chelsea, where, prior to the state takeover, Councilor Stanley Troisi said, promotions depended more on connections than experience.

"With the old government, it was unclear who ran the Police Department," Troisi said. "Was it the chief? Was it the mayor? . . . There were fewer appointments being made, unless you were close to the chief or close to the mayor."

Garvin credited City Manager Jay Ash for trusting him to lead a department that, for eight years, had been run by chiefs who were from the outside.

"I appreciated Mr. Ash doing that," Garvin said. "It said a lot, it really gave this department a boost."

"He has been tireless in his commitment to Chelsea residents and relentless in his efforts to combat crime," Ash stated in a release. "In particular, his focus on major crimes, most notably youth violence, has promoted safety in our neighborhoods and emulation by others looking for solutions to pressing public-safety issues."

Garvin, Troisi said, built on the professionalism that his two predecessors, Rafael Hernandez and Edward Flynn, brought to the department after the breakdown in government.

"Frank's a character. He's a tough kid from Charlestown who became a police officer and did really well here," Troisi said. "He was a good cop, a good supervisor, and a good chief."

When an opportunity to take the civil service test came up in the early 1970s, Garvin, who was 27 and working for a Charlestown organization helping children get jobs, said he decided to take it. He said he has no recollection of aspiring to become a policeman or firefighter.

He also didn't have aspirations to become a lawyer, but during his time as a detective, spending much of his time in court, Garvin said he'd see the lawyers there and said to himself, "Gee, I can do this."

He got his degree from Suffolk University Law School, where his son, Brendan, is now a student, and passed the bar in 1994. He hopes to put the degree to use after he retires.

Although in a couple of months Garvin will no longer be a police chief, he may still play one on television.

Garvin took up acting after seeing a buddy do it at the Massachusetts College of Art.

He joined a theater group there, was in several plays, and has been an extra in Showtime's "Brotherhood," as well as in several films, including "21" and Ben Affleck's upcoming directorial debut, "Gone Baby Gone."

Garvin's ability to balance work with other responsibilities is what made his leadership unique, said Captain Brian Kyes, one of the three candidates for Garvin's job.

"When he became chief, it was just two months after 9/11," Kyes said. "He had to maintain a balance between local policing and Homeland Security responsibilities. It was tough, but he did it."

Kyes said Garvin continued with the department's goal of increasing community policing, as well as expanding the gang unit. In his time as a detective, Garvin worked on several high-profile cases, including the 1995 rape of an elderly woman living in a housing facility for seniors, which led to a change in law preventing younger disabled people from living in complexes for seniors. Garvin also worked on several homicide cases, including the 1990 murder of an armored-car guard.

"I accomplished everything I wanted," Garvin said.

The new chief, Garvin said, will have to continue to deal with quality of life issues, such as gangs, prostitution, and juvenile crime, as well as make sure the kinks are worked out with the citywide surveillance system. Chelsea was the first community in the state to implement a community surveillance program in 2005.

Three candidates are being interviewed for Garvin's position by Ash, who is once again keeping the replacement search internal. Vying for the top position are captains Keith Houghton, Kyes, and Kenneth MacDonald.

Garvin's last day will be Nov. 27, but he said he will leave at the end of October and use his vacation time for the remainder. A new chief, he said, already will be in place by then.

Katheleen Conti can be reached at kconti@globe.com.