At the tender age of 46 Roanoke City police chief Chris Perkins will retire in March after 23 years with the department, a tenure that saw him rise from patrolman to the top job, replacing Joe Gaskins five years ago.
Perkins said he is retiring number one “because he can,” – with his benefits package maxed out, and because it’s been on his mind for some time now. “Everybody wants to go out on top,” said Perkins in a solo interview last month, “we had a good run.”
Perkins said there are “good people” in the police department that he hopes at least get the opportunity to compete for his job. He is looking at other possibilities that might include teaching. “I enjoy education and might look into something like that,” said Perkins, who isn’t sure where his new journey might take him just yet. “It was a good time [to retire] – I’m young and this is all I’ve known as an adult besides college. I’m going to throw my name out there and see what comes up.”
One thing Perkins said he will not do is run for an elected office; while he noted his job is “not political … politics plays a large part in what I do – and I have no desire to be a politician.” Perkins hints that he doesn’t want to leave law enforcement entirely and may stay involved via teaching at some level. “The older I get the more I appreciate [education].”
Perkins, who made community policing and being closer to neighborhoods a cornerstone of his tenure as chief, believes some will be disappointed that he is leaving at such an early age, complements of his generous civil service benefits. “Actually it feels very nice to have people say that … but this job – I’ve put [everything] into it and its time to give someone else a shot.”
He calls law enforcement a “noble profession” and the “most scrutinized” and the recent spotlight on police tactics and possible use of excessive force will only make departments better once everything is sorted out. “It’s also evolving as a profession – and it’s time for someone else in Roanoke City to take it to the next level.” He is grateful that then new City Manager Chris Morrill “took a chance,” in hiring a 41 year old police chief from within the ranks when he came aboard himself five years ago.
Perkins also said there is no burnout factor associated with that scrutiny of police departments nationally and said the Roanoke PD “has worked very hard,” to make sure the department had a better relationship with citizens in all quadrants of the city. “It’s not in any way contributed to this [retirement decision.]”
Perkins hints that he might let his hair grow longer, maybe he won’t shave every day, maybe he’ll offer an opinion or two that he’s had to stifle. He also vows to keep working right up until his March retirement date – rather than go out using banked vacation days.
“It takes a lot to continue doing this,” said Perkins, who wants to focus on the personal side of his life for a while. “I put it all into it and now I want to try something else… it’s kind of good to go out on top … you [want to] drop the mic and walk away.”
By Gene Marrano