MATTAPOISETT — Former Mattapoisett Police Chief Mary Lyons is unlikely to lose her pension or retirement benefits following her retirement amid charges of driving under the influence, according to Town Administrator Mike Lorenco.

While a final decision probably won’t be made until after Lyons’ legal case is resolved, Lorenco made it clear that he expects her to receive her full retirement benefits as stipulated in her contract despite the circumstances around her retirement.

“We don’t want to make a brash decision on her pension,” he said. “Mary earned her retirement with her 36 years of service and we’re not going to just take that away.”

Lorenco added that given the nature of Lyons’ arrest — she was not on-duty or using a police department vehicle at the time — he was not sure if the town would have the legal authority to strip her of her retirement benefits, even if they wanted to.

The Select Board announced that it had agreed to terms of early retirement for Police Chief Mary Lyons on Aug. 5.

Lyons was placed on paid administrative leave on July 19, following her arrest after a traffic stop in Bourne on July 17.

Lyons was charged with operating under the influence of liquor and cited with a marked lanes violation by a state police officer. She pleaded not guilty to the charge on July 19.

Lyons began serving as Mattapoisett Police Chief in 2001. In 2009, she became the first female president of the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association.

Captain Jason King took over as interim police chief following Lyons’ suspension, and will continue to hold the position as the town searches for a replacement.

Lyons’ pretrial hearing is scheduled for Aug. 31.