Police Chief Kevin Walsh has retired and Lt. John Walcek will be named acting chief at the Board of Selectmen’s May 15 meeting.

Town Administrator Derek Sullivan made the brief announcement on Tuesday. Walsh has been on leave for an unspecified reason since late March.

Sullivan said Walsh has reached his maximum retirement benefits and “made a family decision to retire.”

“We wish him well and thank him for his over 33 years of service,” said Sullivan.

Walsh became the town’s top cop in January of 2015. A lifelong Wareham resident, he has served on the department since the 1980s.

He began his career as a seasonal officer and moved up through the roster, achieving the rank of lieutenant in the summer of 2010. Walsh stepped in as interim police chief in November of 2013, after former chief Richard Stanley announced his retirement.

Walcek is a longtime member of the department and has served as the town’s emergency management director. In 2013, Walcek was awarded the Massachusetts Emergency Manager of the Year Award by the Northeast States Emergency Consortium.

Sullivan said details of the search for a new chief haven’t been worked out yet.

“We just received the news of Walsh’s retirement and will be evaluating the future needs of the department,” said Sullivan.