FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (AP) — Fayetteville Police Chief Harold Medlock is retiring after almost four years of leading the department.

News outlets report Medlock announced his retirement Tuesday, following a 28-year career in law enforcement.

Medlock says he will step down at the end of December, but plans to take a medical leave of absence beginning Oct. 1 to have surgery on his shoulder and arm.

The police chief joined the Fayetteville Police Department in February 2013 after two stints with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.

During his tenure in Fayetteville, the department became one of the first law enforcement agencies in the state to equip its officers with body cameras.

Mayor Nat Robertson hailed the police force as “the best department” in the state because of Medlock and his leadership.