After 40 Years In Law Enforcement, Waterford Deputy Chief Is Retiring

By Amy Renczkowski
Published TheDay 10/19/2008

Waterford-People used to call him deputy chief, agent and police officer.

Now it's just Max.

On Friday, Waterford Police Department Deputy Chief Max Thiel ended his 40-year law enforcement career. He spent 12 of those years at Waterford and 25 of them at the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

”I've worked 40 years in one profession. Come Saturday, I am no longer a FBI agent or deputy chief. I am retired, and I'll have to get used to that,” Thiel said. “Even though retirement is something you're supposed to look forward to.”

Last week, Thiel, 67, was busy packing his things in boxes and saying goodbye to friends and co-workers. He said the last few days on the job had been emotional.

”It's going to be an adjustment, and I recognize that,” Thiel said. “But I'm proud of the people in this agency. I feel comfortable leaving, knowing that they'll perform in a commendable manner.”

One of the motivating factors for his retirement was to be able to spend more time with his family. He has 5-year-old twins and three grown children.

He lives with his wife, Joetta, in Killingworth.

Golfing more is in the cards, along with much-needed house repairs, he said.

In his 12 years at Waterford, he's seen the department change significantly. He's been a part of restaffing the entire department, initiating the new canine, ATV and bike programs, gaining accreditation and bringing in a new computerized record system.

”He's going to be a hard act to follow,” said Police Chief Murray Pendleton. “He's a unique individual with a lot of skills and has a lot of accomplishments.”

Thiel grew up in Chicago, where he taught in a school, and moved to Connecticut when he joined the FBI in 1968.

During his time with the FBI he was a charter member of the criminal investigation negotiating team and became a profile coordinator for the program in Connecticut. Following his leave from the FBI New Haven branch in 1994, he taught at the Connecticut Police Academy for a couple of years.

Pendleton said he will meet with various town officials to look at filling the deputy chief position.