TIVERTON — Chief Thomas Blakey has announced his intention to retire at some unspecified date in the near future.

The announcement was made by Town Administrator Paul McGreevy at the Aug. 28 town council meeting, just before the council went into executive session, and at the very end of an agenda which gave no indication the announcement would be made.

Chief Blakey was present in council chambers but did not comment.

"In conversations with Chief Blakey last Friday [Aug. 25], Chief Blakey has indicated his intention to retire in the near future and we are looking at specific dates when that would be best for finishing up some work he's doing and so forth," Mr. McGreevy told the council.

"Certainly we'd like to give my congratulations to Chief Blakey's future career wherever that will be in retirement and thanks to his service to Tiverton," Mr. McGreevy said.

Chief Blakey, 68, a resident of Swansea, is under a three-year contract with the town through Sept. 7, 2018, and currently receives a salary of $88,986. He began as chief for the town on September 8, 2003.

The contract calls for the employee to notify the employer "at least forty-five (45) days prior to the date of retirement or within such other time period as may be mutually agreeable to the parties."

"We're coming to the end of the calendar year," Mr. McGreevy said in an interview late last week. "We haven't yet decided on an end date. At the next council meeting [Sept. 11] we'll have a procedure to announce."

Mr. McGreevy said the search for a new police chief "will include seeking input from other chiefs and professionals in the field."

Chief Blakey did not respond to multiple requests for comment.