Howard County Police Chief Wayne Livesay will retire from his post May 31, according to a department-wide e-mail Livesay sent out Friday.
“The chief expressed to his officers that he is very proud of all of his officers and that it is very difficult to leave the finest police agency in the nation after 34 years,” said police spokesman Pfc. Brandon Justice.
Livesay is running for the Republican nomination for the western-most Howard County Council seat, District 5, which includes all of western Howard County and part of Ellicott City.
When he announced his intention to run for council in February, Livesay said he planned to step down before the Nov. 7 election.
County Executive James Robey, a Democrat, asked Livesay to stay on as police chief through the department?s April reaccreditation process.
Robey?s spokeswoman, Victoria Goodman, said Friday that she suspected Robey would have a replacement for Livesay, either acting or permanent, by the chief?s retirement date.
Maj. William McMahon and Maj. Gary Gardner are the highest ranking members of the police department after Livesay.
A lifelong Republican, Livesay switched parties in 2002 to support Robey, himself a former a police chief, and because he felt the Republican party had grown soft on gun control.
Now that Robey is finishing his second-term as county executive, Livesay said he feels free to return to his original party.
Livesay has the support of current District 5 County Council Member Charles Feaga, a Republican.
In recent weeks, backers of Republican Greg Fox, a primary opponent of Livesay, have alleged the chief is violating the federal Hatch Act by remaining in office while he runs for the council seat.
The Hatch Act prohibits local government employees who oversee federal funds from campaigning in a partisan election; using authority to interfere with results of an election; and coercing contributions from subordinates.
In an interview Wednesday, Livesay said he had informed Robey of his retirement date and the alleged Hatch Act violations were therefore a “moot point.”
