SAUGUS – Police Chief James MacKay is retiring from his position after serving 38 years on the police force, town officials said Sunday.Town Manager Andrew Bisignani said MacKay filed for retirement “several weeks ago” and would step down in early August.”I’m sorry to see him go,” Bisignani said. “He’s been very good to work with. He’s a true professional and very dedicated to his job.”Bisignani said three lieutenants in the department have taken exams to become chief, making them candidates for MacKay’s position. They are identified as Lts. Dominic DiMella, Chuck Wheeler and Ronald Whitten, according to Bisignani.Lt. Michael Annese, second-in-command of the police department, did not say for certain if he would also seek the chief’s job.”Chances are I’m staying in my position,” Annese said over the phone Sunday. “I could retire also, but I’m not sure what’s going to happen.”MacKay could not be reached for comment on Sunday.”I could always predict what he was going to say every time we had a meeting,” Bisignani said. “He was always talking about the limited number of officers we have and the concern for public safety.”The police department came under fire this summer when drastically cut staffing levels forced several officers to work back-to-back shifts, resulting in 16-hour work days for many. Sometimes only four officers were on duty during a shift when the minimum staffing levels call for six or seven officers on duty.”That’s not his fault,” Bisignani said. “At Finance Committee meetings and town meetings he never hesitated to get up and speak, saying the lack of manpower is affecting the performance of the police department? He only has money to pay the two [patrolmen] on the street, so what is he supposed to do?”The Saugus Police Superior Officers’ Union took a vote of “no confidence” in MacKay and Annese in March 2004 citing communication problems and arbitrary disciplinary measures against officers.At the time, MacKay said he was “disgruntled” by the vote.”They need to blame someone,” MacKay said. “I guess, as chief, they blame me.”