NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WVEC) -- Sources tell 13News Now that Police Chief Richard Myers will be leaving the Newport News police department.
We're told he will be leaving to work at the Major Cities Chiefs Association as an executive director. He'll reportedly have a home office, but will regularly travel.
The MCCA is a professional association of Chiefs and Sheriffs representing the largest cities in the United States and Canada.
Myers sent out the following email to the department on Tuesday morning:
This will be my second to the last newsletter to you all. Now, I bet I have your attention!Knowing how rumors flow around here, I wanted to get the word out to the men and women I have the privilege to work with every day before it makes the rounds publicly. I will follow up in the next couple weeks with more information, but here is the thing: I have advised the City Manager of my intention to retire from police service on Sept. 1st. I said when I came here, this would be my final police chief job, and I’m thrilled that indeed my service with the Newport News Police will be my final service as a police officer.
I’m not going out to pasture, however. I had actually been looking for a winter/spring time frame to retire, but on Friday, was offered an opportunity that is a natural transition for me out of being a chief but continuing to serve our profession. I have been hired to be the Executive Director of a national police chiefs organization representing the largest agencies in the US and Canada. I will have a home office, with regular travel, but have an extremely flexible schedule and certainly won’t have many of the stresses that accompany being a chief. More on all that to come….
We will have plenty of time for me to go into more detail, to thank you for all you’ve meant to me, etc. For now, just be aware that this is out there, be safe, and God bless you all.The City of Newport News issued the following statement on Tuesday: