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Wayne Torpy, Los Alamos’ police chief for eight years, announced his retirement Monday afternoon in a short phone call to the Los Alamos Monitor. Torpy who suffered a stroke several months ago and then later underwent open heart surgery, cited the after effects of his medical ordeal as the reason behind his decision retire.

“My health is not what it was a year ago, and for the good of the county, for the good of the department and for my personal well-being I had to take a hard look at everything,” Torpy said. “After 36 years in law enforcement, the signals are telling me it’s time to move along.”

Torpy characterized the decision to retire as “the hardest decision I made in my life.”

Torpy plans to stay on through the summer, and though he has not set a specific date yet, he believes his last day on the job will come some time in the fall.

Torpy said he was willing and able to help County Administrator Harry Burgess to find a replacement if he needed his help. It is not known when the county will begin a search for a new chief.

Torpy was just as surprised as anyone regarding his decision.