Head Of The Harbor Chief Martin Thompson Retires

Gwen & Marty Thompson with an Arline Goldstein original painting

By p.biancaniello

photos by William Garthe, Our Town St James - Click on photos to enlarge

Retirement? Yes. Leaving the area? No. That about sums up the message from Head of the Harbor Chief of Police Martin Thompson. A retirement ceremony in honor of Marty, as most people know him, was held at Village Hall, Head Of The Harbor on Sunday, March 13.

A room full of friends, family, colleagues and politicos showed up to wish Marty well as he heads off into retirement. It was an emotional Chief Thompson who thanked his wife, family and the people he worked with.

Chief Thompson is no stranger to retirement having retired from the Navy and Police Department prior to working for Head of the Harbor. This retirement may be a little different because Thompson is not planning to find a new job somewhere. Truth be told Thompson loved his job, his colleagues and the people who live in the area. It was his decision to retire and it wasn’t because he didn’t want to work anymore. Thompson retired because after thirty years on the force he wants to be a snowbird. “I couldn’t do the job the way I wanted and the way I’ve done it for years if I am a snowbird in Florida.” 

Looking back on his career he marvels at how many things have changed and how many have stayed the same. Thompson is a strong advocate for the use of technology in policing. The use of cameras and computers has made policing more affordable and more efficient. Reports are a big part of police work, but using computers is faster and more efficient thereby freeing up time for policing. This according to Thompson is a very good thing.

Head Of The Harbor Mayor Douglas A. Dahlgard and Marty ThompsonPolicing is one of those things Marty Thompson loves. He is well known for being on the side of the road in his police vehicle on Edgewood Avenue as a reminder to drivers not to speed. He has is no nonsense but always respectful. When asked if he has any interesting stories about pulling people over he laughs and says “no” most people are respectful and apologetic.

So what is the most interesting thing about policing in Head of the Harbor? “I don’t know if it is the most interesting but there have been thousands of people over the years looking for the non-existent Mary’s grave. You can spot them immediately, they don’t know where they are going and they slow down as they drive. I think the story came from some professor but it has lived on.” According to Town Historian Bradley Harris, there was a grave and tombstone in the area that was part of a cemetery that was destroyed. At one time a boy scout attempted to repair the gravestone of a Mary Smith, but when he went to replace it, the remaining cemetary tombstones had been completely destroyed. Without markers the cemetery reverted to its natural habitat. There Thompsons and Lohmannsis some speculation that neighbors didn’t like having a cemetery and visitors and perhaps someone decided that the graveyard didn’t belong there anymore. The irony is that people still drive looking for the cemetry, perhaps more because of legend of Mary’s Grave.

What is Martin Thompson going to do now? His wife Gwen is not worried about him getting bored after 48 years of marriage. She and the couples children and grandchildren are pretty confident that he will keep busy. As for Martin Thompson, he is scheduled for knee surgery. After that he will be enjoying his grandkids if they want to spend time with them and enjoying his hobbies golfing, fishing and hunting. 

In addition to being Head of the Harbor Chief of Police, Thompson is active in the St. James FD, VFW, American Legion, Submarine Veterans, FOP Lodge 53 and Sons of Norway Loyal Lodge in St. James. 

For the Thompsons retirement is what you make of it.