On Friday, Hawaii County Police Chief Paul Ferreira officially announced his retirement following a 40-year career with the police department.

After joining the department in 1982 as a patrol officer, Ferreira worked as a detective and the assistant chief of the Administrative Bureau. He was then named as deputy chief in 2008 by Chief Harry Kubojiri.

The Hawaii County Police Commission selected Ferreira as police chief in 2016.

“It has been an honor and privilege to serve as the Police Chief since December 2016 in what I know to be the finest police department in the nation, primarily because it is staffed with the finest men and women in Hawaii,” Ferreira said in a press release.

In a letter addressed to staff, the chief said he was thankful to Hawaii Police Department employees for their hard work in making the community a safer place.

Ferreira’s retirement will be effective on Sept. 1. The Hawaii County Police Commission will select the new police chief.