Longtime Rochester Police Chief Paul Magee is set to retire in September of 2018, he announced on September 18.

Magee presented a letter he had written to Rochester's Board of Selectmen on Monday night, outlining his plans for retirement. He plans to retire on September 16, 2018, just under a year away.

In the letter, which Magee read out loud, he explained that he wanted as much time as possible to find and train a replacement police chief, and to allow for a smooth transition as he retires.

"Being police chief of Rochester has been the highlight of my career and a tremendous honor," he read. "It's been an honor to serve the town and the residents and to work with the wonderful people on the department."

Magee began his police career as a summer officer on the Wareham Police Department 30 years ago. He then worked part-time for the Marion Police Department, until moving to a full-time position at the Mattapoisett Police Department in 1988. He was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in Mattapoisett in 1994, and remained on the force until he was selected as Rochester's police chief in 2003.

Magee thanked the people who selected him as police chief 14 years ago. One of those people was Selectman Naida Parker, who hugged Magee after he read his notice. "You are one of the best decisions I've made in my life," she told him.