In a move that’s a shocking slap in the face to the taxpayers of Lawrence, the city’s police chief has departed with $780,000 in his pocket after reaching a secret deal with city officials.

And in neighboring Methuen, the city’s former police chief violated several conflict of interest laws while serving as chief, according to a new report by the state Ethics Commission.

These are troubling developments for these two vitally important small cities in Massachusetts, especially the secretive deal leading to Lawrence Chief Roy Vasque leaving amid unanswered questions and silence from city officials.

Vasque was placed on leave six months ago without any word as to why. His departure was also not explained.

“As of June 30th, after reaching a settlement agreement with the City of Lawrence, I am retired,” Vasque said in a statement on July 4 that did not mention any reason for his departure.

City officials were just as non-transparent in kissing Vasque – who served for six years – on the way out the door.

Mayor Brian DePena would only say he wishes Vasque a “prosperous and healthy retirement.”

Well, a payout of $780,000 would pretty much assure a “prosperous” retirement for the poor chief. You’d think they would have given Vasque an award.

Vasque was suspended and placed on paid leave, but it’s not clear whether that played a role in him retiring. The city hired an outside firm to investigate numerous officers being placed on leave but that report was never released.

Taxpayers were never told why Vasque was placed on leave and city officials refused to say how much they paid for the outside investigation.

In addition to his duties in Lawrence, Vasque served as president of the Massachusetts Major City Chiefs of Police Association.

This is no minor case of a city acting with contempt for taxpayers – it’s a grievous injustice to everyone who pays for police in Lawrence and an example of how Massachusetts government continually fails its taxpayers.

Whether at Beacon Hill – where bills are introduced and passed in virtual secrecy – or in small cities like Lawrence and Methuen, government acts without any regard for the truth or transparency.

Fat departure deals are thrown at city officials with no explanation.

If Boston Mayor Michelle Wu – who has a poor record of transparency herself – ever tried anything like what’s happening in Lawrence, she would be publicly roasted.

Lawrence’s mayor owes his constituents a full explanation of what led to the chief’s departure.

In Methuen, the situation is different but even more grim. The ethics commission found “reasonable cause” to believe former Police Chief Joseph Solomon had a conflict of interest in raising his pay and hiring a Methuen City Councilor and three “intermittent” officers already working for his private security firm, and not telling city officials.

That decision came after a city-funded report found Solomon ran the Police Department like the “don of an organized crime family” and repeatedly broke the law during his 15-year tenure.

In this case there eventually was some transparency but only after Solomon retired in Jan. 2021, a month after the state Inspector General concluded Solomon conspired to trick city officials into approving inflated police contracts.

Taxpayers in both cities deserve better.