Police Chief Richard Walling to Retire in 2013

Westlake Police Chief Richard Walling told Westlake Patch before Thursday night's City Council meeting that he intends to retire before the end of 2013.

He has not yet submitted any paperwork to the city, and no date of retirement has been formally set, Walling said, but, unless something changes in 2013, retirement is the plan.

"It's just my time," he said. "I'm really lucky and I've worked with a lot of good people. It's time for me to go and let one of them be in charge."

Walling has been with the Westlake Police Department since 1980, and has been Chief of Police since 1995. He currently oversees 108 employees, including 60 police officers.

A civil service test will be given sometime in February for captains and lieutenants who want to apply to be his successor, Walling said.

Whoever does succeed Walling will face challenges he didn't have to deal with when he started.

"Technology is going to remain a crime issue," he said. "There are so many internet frauds and things like that. The next chief is going to have to keep up with technology."

Walling said that he has no intention of being a "double-dipper," retiring to collect his accrued pension then coming back to work.

"When I retire, that's it," Walling said. "You won't see me (working) there anymore."