The Wellesley Police Department wishes a long and happy retirement to Officer Tim Dennehy after 30 years of service as a Police Officer, and 38 total years of service to the Town of Wellesley.
Tim grew up in Wellesley and attended Wellesley Schools. His service to the community began when he started working for the Wellesley Public Schools. In 1987 he started working for the Wellesley Water Department. He was then appointed to the Wellesley Police Department and started the Waltham Police Academy in March of 1994.
As he began his law enforcement career, it was clear that Tim would be very reserved and quiet, usually keeping to himself.
Actually, we are totally kidding on that one—anyone who has ever met, worked, or been in a five mile radius of Tim knows that he is anything but quiet, no matter what time of the day or night you find him. Tim can, and has, talked to everyone he meets. He constantly has a smile on his face and is always ready to help out another officer by covering a shift, telling a joke, and just generally being a positive force.
Tim primarily spent the majority of his career working nights and overnights. He usually worked in the Lower Falls and Wellesley Hills area. Many commuters will probably recognize him, as you can always find him on Washington Street or Glen Road (among others) enforcing the speed limit.
Tim took community policing seriously, and embraced the department’s vision on helping people, no matter what the situation was. Tim is the type of police officer that you wanted helping your parents if they were in trouble.
During Tim’s career, he obtained his Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and became one of the department’s first accident reconstructionist, investigating serious life-threatening crashes.
Tim also was appointed to the Metropolitan Law Enforcement Council’s (MetroLEC) Tactical Bike Unit (TBU). The TBU is a regional bike team that responds to member communities to assist when needed. Tim worked in many different communities and events with this unit, including Sail Boston, Red Sox and Patriots celebration parades in Boston, and hundreds of other events throughout the years.
Tim was also one of the Wellesley Police Department’s elder affairs officers and worked with the Council on Aging to solve issues within Wellesley’s Senior Citizen community. He was well known at the Tolles Parson Center and did his last “Coffee with a Cop” there on June 18. Tim was a member of the department’s Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) as well and received specialized training in de-escalation.
Early in his career, Tim joined the Wellesley Police Department’s Honor Guard. The Honor Guard represents Wellesley at formal events in Wellesley and other communities. Events range from opening Red Sox games, parades, and police funerals. Members wear a formal uniform, and carry the United States Flag, as well as the flag of the Commonwealth and the Wellesley Police Department.
The department sought to re-design those formal uniforms recently, and Tim volunteered to spearhead the effort. Tim spent countless hours going through various combinations of buttons, sleeves, jackets, collar brass and colors trying to find the perfect uniform that reflected the Wellesley Police Department. As each design was reviewed and evolved, Tim continued tirelessly, working with a uniform design company.
Earlier this year, Tim’s hard work and dedication to the design process came to fruition as the first full test uniform was produced. The uniform reflected a traditional, early 1900’s New England police uniform that was utilized in many cities and towns, including Wellesley through the 1950’s.
As feedback was received, both internally and from the community, it was clear that Tim had a winning design. Tim got a chance to show off the uniform at several events over the past few months, including the Open House and more recently at the Town of Wellesley’s Flag Day Ceremony.
Although Officer Dennehy is leaving us to enjoy his retirement, members of the department will be proud to wear the Honor Guard Uniform that he designed, for many years to come. Tim’s served as the Honor Guard’s leader for the last few years, as the most senior police officer in the unit.
Officer Tim Dennehy has set his mark on the Wellesley Police Department and the Town of Wellesley. We truly wish Tim, his wife Julie, and their two children all the best as they enjoy his well-deserved retirement after 37 years of service.