At tonight’s Police Commission meeting, North Haven Police Chief James X. DiCarlo announced his retirement, effective March 31, after 38 years of department service in various positions.

“I just felt it was the right time to retire,” DiCarlo said at the March 22 meeting. “I will never forget my experiences here.”

Before a packed audience in a North Haven police department conference room, DiCarlo read from a prepared statement. “I’m going to miss my entire police family,” he said. “It was a difficult decision.”

DiCarlo first gained employment with North Haven’s department as a 22-year-old in June of 1973, after graduation from New Haven University. In 1977, he became the youngest officer in North Haven law enforcement history to attain sergeant rank at 26 years of age.

In 1987, DiCarlo attained advancement to lieutenant, squad commander and training coordinator. Three years later, he realized promotion to deputy chief. Finally, in 2000, he was elevated into his role as police chief.

“I’ve enjoyed my entire career, no matter what rank I was,” he said.

Joseph F. D’Errico, Police Commission chairman, said commission members would convene in executive session on Monday, March 28, for initial discussions into procedures for finding DiCarlo’s replacement.

“I’m a little choked because of what the chief meant to me during the 22 years I’ve spent on the commission,” D’Errico said after DiCarlo’s statement. “I believe we have one of the best-equipped departments in the state thanks to James DiCarlo.”

“Jim, you will be missed but not forgotten,” he added to DiCarlo. “You will always be ‘chief.’”

First Selectman Michael Freda was on hand to congratulate North Haven’s outgoing chief. “His abilities and encyclopedic knowledge of North Haven has been a great asset,” Freda said of DiCarlo. “The leadership he demonstrated here has been unprecedented in town government.”

“I, for one, will miss him personally,” Freda added. “He is an outstanding individual, and a true credit to the North Haven Police Department and the North Haven community.”

DiCarlo said he had been considering retirement for the last two months, and will remember fondly his North Haven Police Department years . “I’ve enjoyed my entire career,” he said. “I’ve seen some sadness, I’ve seen some happiness, but all in all, I’ve really enjoyed working with the police personnel, and, of course, the community and town government.”

For an expanded story with additional photographs, please see this week’s upcoming North Haven Citizen, available throughout town on Friday, March 25.