‘One of the great honors of my life,’ longtime Fitchburg police chief Ernest Martineau ’87 retires

By Alumni Office

Retiring Fitchburg Police Chief Ernest F. Martineau speaks during the swearing-in ceremony for his replacement, Police Chief Steve Giannini, who began Feb. 1, 2025, with Fitchburg Mayor Samantha Squailia, right.

It’s the end of a long and distinguished era for Fitchburg (MA) Police Chief Ernest Martineau, who officially retired on Jan. 31, ten years to the day he first stepped into the role. He is handing over the reins to a new chief of police, Steven Giannini, who has been second-in-command captain with the Fitchburg Police Department (FPD) for close to a decade.

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