Longtime Hampstead police chief retires

HAMPSTEAD — One Friday night card game led to 52 years of service and respect in town for retiring police Chief Joseph Beaudoin.

On his last day as chief Feb. 12, Beaudoin, 76, sat in his office and reflected on his five decades with the Police Department, 24 years at its helm, and of course, that card game.

Beaudoin’s department held a final, radio signal send-off outside his home that night as he was surrounded by family members, neighbors and Hampstead police. The send-off highlighted his police career and service with the U.S. Marine Corps in Vietnam.

He saw the department go from part time, where their personal homes served as the police station, to now a staff of 10 full-time officers and numerous part-timers in a building constructed for the department 10 years ago.

Beaudoin has always involved himself in the community, with or without the badge.

“Jo Jo,” a well-liked, personable Hampstead resident, was elected eight times by the town for the part-time chief position.

But he said the job is now “a young man’s sport” and he’s ready to step down.

“It’s time,” Beaudoin said. “It was hard to walk away. They take care of me here.”

In 1972, his first year, Beaudoin lived on Main Street and played cards with other officers and state troopers. They would play until the early morning hours as officers filtered in and out of his house while responding to calls or just stopping by for coffee and dessert.

The games were often held up to respond to car crashes on Beaudoin’s street. One night, Beaudoin was told he should become a patrol officer. Beaudoin put his hand up and was sworn in.

As the story goes: “within four hours, I was given a uniform and gun,” Beaudoin said.

The rest was history.

Beaudoin saw Hampstead and the department grow ever since that night.

When he started, police weren’t out during the day or night. The officers would be at their full-time jobs and on call.

“All of us worked in town as carpenters, plumbers or roofers,” Beaudoin said.

At the time, part-time officers didn’t need to attended the Police Academy for training. In 1980, when Hampstead hired its first full-time officer, the state also updated the requirements to have part-time officers receive training.

Beaudoin attended the state’s part-time academy, but learned largely while on the job. He started as a patrol officer, and learned from the department how to handle everything from murders to domestic violence.

“I’ve always had good people helping me,” Beaudoin said.

As a part-timer officer and eventual deputy, Beaudoin and Police Chief William Letoile answered calls from home. Their wives would even pick up the police line.

Beaudoin said he would then hop into his wife’s car or his pickup truck, and head out to a call.

“It was probably a Ford Fairlane at the time,” Beaudoin recalled. “We put a big bubble light on the top and we would use that as a police car.”

Beaudoin had people “sleep it off” at his house to cool down, and made sure to tell his wife not to go upstairs. Or he would accompany the chief when the alarm sounded at Pillbox Pharmacy.

“It was a different time, but it was nice,” Beaudoin said. “Everybody took care of each other in town. Hampstead had that Mayberry feel to it,” referring to the 1960s TV show “The Andy Griffith Show.”

A man of the people, residents came to Beaudoin’s house and asked for advice.

“Our houses were the police station,” he said.

People came for gun permits or to talk about domestic disputes. He always had an open door for residents or a cup of coffee to discuss problems.

“I can’t believe you’re giving people advice,” Beaudoin said his wife would tell him.

If called to break up a party in the woods, he would usually know everyone there, which helped to calm things down. There was never a fear of getting shot or hurt on the job, Beaudoin said.

Things have changed as the town grew, he explained, as Hampstead has had crime just like any another community.

He remembered a murder on Route 111 when they found a woman’s body in the woods. They considered the case solved, but were never able to arrest the man responsible after he killed himself following a pursuit in Maine.

Then, there was the excitement when President Gerald Ford and the Secret Service came to Hampstead in September 1975.

“We guarded buildings and we wore a little badge because we were carrying guns,” he said. “A lot has happened over the years.”

Through it all, he’s been an involved chief.

In 52 years, he saw the department change, but emphasized that they knew their level of expertise and when they needed help.

And the department made due wherever it was located. Beaudoin said they eventually moved out of their homes to a second-floor Town Hall room. The old fire station on Emerson Avenue housed the department until Hampstead approved construction of the new station on Veterans Way in 2013.

Those same residents, who showed their support to build a new station, voted in Beaudoin as chief time after time.

“They all knew I was a nice guy,” Beaudoin said with a laugh. “I wear my heart on my shoulder. The town’s problems are my problems.”

Residents voted nearly a year ago to have the position appointed by the Board of Selectmen and become full time when Beaudoin decided to retire. He advocated for the change.

Bob Kelley, Beaudoin’s deputy and now the interim chief, will officially assume the job next month.

“I wanted to make sure the position stayed with someone in the department,” Beaudoin said.

His goal has been to hire family-oriented officers to serve the community.

The duties, technology and dynamics of the police force may have changed, but Beaudoin said the department’s character has never altered. Along with Letoile, he helped hire and train officers who would put Hampstead first. They created a family-like atmosphere where officers stay despite other opportunities.

He even made sure his overnight crew went home to say goodnight to their families.

While he has retired as chief, Beaudoin said he still owns his vinyl siding business and will continue to work it like he’s done all these years. and although he won’t put on a police uniform anymore, the fatherly love he has for his department will never diminish.

“Just my clubhouse is gone now,” he said with a laugh. “This department, they’re all my kids. I surrendered my key, but I’m still going to come here because I love them all.”