Deputy Chief Wendy LaPierre was sworn in as Pembroke Chief of Police on Wednesday evening, July 1, 2026. She will replace retiring Chief Richard MacDonald and will be Pembroke's first female Chief.
The ceremony was held in the Community Center, just prior to the start of the Select Board meeting. The regular venue was changed to accommodate the number of people expected to attend the ceremony, and it was, indeed, a full house. Members of local police departments were represented, including Duxbury, Norwell, Hanover, Marshfield, Hanson, Kingston and Quincy. The State Police and the Plymouth County Sheriff Department were also in attendance, as well as Fire Department personnel. Rick Wall and Bill Boulter, both retired Chiefs of Police from Pembroke, were in the audience to honor the new Chief.
The ceremony began with Ms. LaPierre entering the Community Center, followed by family and friends. Next came the attending officers and officials, their procession accompanied by the bagpipes and drums of the Boston Police Gaelic Column (https://www.bostonpolicegaeliccolumn.com/), the Boston Police Department's bagpipe band.
Town Manager Bill Chenard opened the formal ceremony with words of thanks to the attendees from the surrounding towns, the Select Board and members of the public. He went on, "She [Chief LaPierre] has the support of me, the elected boards and committees, and all of you," which brought loud applause.
Next to speak was retired Chief MacDonald. He looked at Chief LaPierre and quipped "So Chief, how's your first day of the buck stops here?" He talked about his enjoyment of working with LaPierre, and finished with "Pembroke is not just getting a great chief, they are getting the right one!"
Assistant Town Clerk Zoie Curtin administered the oath of office to the new Chief, and then it was time for remarks from Chief LaPierre. She began by thanking her family, and then her mother. "To my mother, who raised six children on her own, and in 1998, wrote me a letter telling me that I would be the first female police chief in this town," and the crowd broke out, again, in applause. She continued, "You are the strongest woman I know and will always be my hero." She thanked the past Chiefs, the men and women of the Pembroke Police department, and the residents of the town. "Thank you for placing your trust in me. It is the greatest honor of my career to serve as your Chief of Police."
Her mother then pinned on her new badge of Chief.
Live Stream of the swearing in and meeting, courtesy of The Local Seen. Begins around the 10-minute mark.
