‘Big loss’ for Portsmouth as No. 2 and No. 3 police officers retire

They came in together and they’re leaving together.”

Portsmouth Police Chief Thomas Lee

PORTSMOUTH — In a development that took many by surprise, Deputy Police Chief Brian Peters and Lt. Steven Hoetzel — two-thirds of the department’s administrative team — retired Friday after 20 years on the force.

“I don’t think many people in town knew about this,” Police Chief Thomas Lee said Friday morning. “It’s going to be a big loss for the police force and for the town. I’m losing my No. 2 and No. 3 guys.”

Major Peters, 42, and Lt. Hoetzel, 55, signed up to be police officers on the same day two decades ago.

“They were classmates in the (Police) Academy,” said Chief Lee. “They came in together and they’re leaving together.”

Although both officers were tightlipped about their decision to retire now, others said the primary reason was the potential loss of pension benefits in the next labor contract. (The town is currently in negotiations with the police union for a new contract; the next bargaining session is scheduled for Saturday morning, March 31.)

“I prefer not to go into it,” Major Peters replied when asked about his reasons for retiring. “It’s a long story, but there’s no contract in place, so we kind of had to move on.”

Town Administrator Richard Rainer, Jr., who joined a sendoff party for the two officers at the police station Friday, said he was “absolutely devastated” to see them leaving the department.

“I think this is internal politics and their fear of losing their benefits. We tried very, very hard to keep them in. But I think what it comes to is they had to do what they felt was right for them and their financial future,” Mr. Rainer said. 

Chief Lee agreed. “They’re making the right decision with their pensions,” he said. “They’re better off retiring under the current contract than taking a chance with the new contract and having their pensions lowered.”

People person

“He’s my right-hand man — absolutely and completely dependable,” Chief Lee said of Major Peters.

The retiring deputy chief was one of the most visible members of the department, known for his solid interpersonal skills.

“When people come into the station angry, he’s got a great way of dealing with complaints. He’s well respected throughout the Rhode Island police community,” Chief Lee said. 

Major Peters said dealing with the public was always one of best parts of the job.

“I always tried to show everybody respect. I tried to treat them how I would want to be treated, or how I’d want my mother to be treated if she were coming into the police station. Sometimes in this field you can’t always do that, but you try,” he said.

Major Peters has overseen the day-to-day operations of the department for the past five years. Before that, he was the detective commander.

“I liked being in detectives, but I think it’s just the little things — when somebody was having the worst time of their life and you helped them out — that you remember,” he said. “I’ve been here for a few murders and a bank robbery, but it was the interactions I had with individuals in town, or those passing through, that I’ll remember most.”

Chief Lee said he had always wanted Major Peters to be his successor, and there’s nothing from preventing him from tossing his hat into the ring when the position becomes vacant.

“I could, if the town was interested,” Major Peters acknowledged. “Anything’s possible. We’ll see what happens down the road.”

‘Behind-the-scenes guy’

As the department’s administrative lieutenant, Lt. Hoetzel oversaw grant-writing, purchasing and technology. For many years, he volunteered to oversee the Police Explorers Program for local youth, was in charge of the school resource officers and acted as school safety liaison.

“Steve’s like the behind-the scenes guy,” Chief Lee said. “He oversees all of our grant programs. When we win a grant, people say, ‘Oh, that’s great,’ but Steve is actually the guy who writes the grant, and the chief just goes up there and accepts it.

“He also works on the department’s technology side. He’s our computer guy, our phone system guy. He’s the guy for the inside stuff; I can’t even describe everything. There are so many things people don’t see.”

“It’s time,” Lt. Hoetzel said. “We’ve been here 20 years and it’s time to move on and do something else. It’s been a great job. I’m doing the IT stuff now; I’ve been doing it the last three years.”

The lieutenant said it was particularly gratifying to come up through the ranks with Major Peters. “We served in detectives together, we’ve been in patrol together. We’ve done everything,” he said.

Chief Lee said Lt. Maryanne Perry has been hired to be the new administrative lieutenant. 

“No one’s the deputy chief yet,” he said, noting the position must be filled within 30 days. 

Future plans

Lt. Hoetzel said he doesn’t have any immediate plans for his retirement. “I’m going to take some time off and relax — spend some time with the family and then go out and search for a job,” he said. 

He’ll keep cooking, too. Lt. Hoetzel, known for his culinary skills, was victorious in Atria Aquidneck Place’s annual “Chef Showdown” in 2016 that pitted him against the assisted living facility’s chef. 

“I still hold the record. I’m the only one who won down there,” he said with a laugh.

Other than a to-do list he plans on tackling at home, Major Peters also said he doesn’t have any big plans.

“It will definitely be strange. I’ve been here for every tropical storm, every blizzard …”

Now he can stay home.

“That will be a little odd,” he said. “I love this job. I kind of grew up here — started when I was 22, right out of school.”