Burlington Police Chief Michael Schirling announced his retirement Tuesday, ending a 25-year career with the department and a seven-year tenure as chief.
Schirling said the decision was not based on any specific circumstance in his life or within the department.
"It's time," he said, when asked what led to the decision. "There's a number of things. One of them is most of you have heard me say before it's not the years that get you, it's the miles."
Schirling said he hopes to step away from the constant stress of a job mired in conflict and crisis.
"I want to be able to have a long life, and there's no question that this work, whether it is in my role or any of the others, takes a toll," he said.
At age 45, Schirling isn't done working, but he said Tuesday that he's not sure what's next for him. Whatever it is, he said, it has to make a difference.
After growing up in Burlington, Schirling took a job with the department as a 19-year-old University of Vermont student and has been there in various roles ever since.
In a release, Mayor Miro Weinberger thanked Schirling for his service as chief and in all of his prior roles.
"During his many years at BPD, Schirling served as a patrol officer, detective, investigator at the Chittenden Unit for Special Investigations (CUSI), director of CUSI, co-founder and commander of the VT Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, patrol lieutenant in the City’s Old North End Policing District, administrative lieutenant, and deputy chief," the release said.
A search committee will put together recommendations for Schirling's successor, who will take over when he leaves the department in June.
