Town Administrator Derek Sullivan and the Board of Selectmen officially appointed Kevin Walsh as the Wareham Chief of Police Tuesday night.

Sworn in by Town Clerk Mary Ann Silva in front of family, friends and the police honor guard, Walsh became just the eighth permanent Wareham police chief.

"I will hold true to my oath and always conduct myself and the operation of the department at the highest levels of integrity, honesty and moral character, which is what all Wareham citizens deserve, without question," said Walsh.

A lifelong Wareham resident and 30-year veteran of the force, Walsh began his career as a seasonal officer before working his way up to interim police chief in November 2013 when former Police Chief Richard Stanley announced his plan to retire.

Walsh described what he felt the the first time he put on his uniform in the spring of 1985.

"I remember standing in the mirror staring at the patch on my shoulder and being so proud to be a police officer for the town of Wareham," he said. "As I stand before you tonight that feeling of pride is overwhelming."

Walsh was selected as chief last month after he achieved the highest score on the Nov. 6 "assessment center" exam used to determine the new head of the department.

There were five applicants, all from within the Wareham Police Department, who took the exam.

Walsh signed a three-year contract, set to expire June 30, 2018 and will be paid $138,000 his first year, according to Sullivan. That is $28,000 less than the annual salary of former Chief Stanley.

"I've worked closely with him over the last few years and he is a fine representative of this department and this community," said Sullivan.

Walsh thanked Sullivan and the Selectmen for their support.

"I'm very proud to be a member of a town leadership team that is moving forward with the best intentions of Wareham and all of its good citizens," said Walsh.