After serving just over five years in the department, Langley’s Chief of Police is set to retire from his position.

Don Lauer was first named the city’s interim police chief in 2018, following the firing of the former chief, David Marks. A year later, Lauer was confirmed as the new chief.

Now, he is retiring starting Dec. 31.

In a Nov. 15 notice to the mayor, Lauer said he will be retiring from law enforcement altogether. He cited that he will be pursuing “other areas that have been of great interest to me.”

“I have great appreciation for the city and its leaders in giving me the opportunity to serve the citizens of Langley and its surrounding areas, first as an officer and now as the Chief of Police with the Langley Police Department,” he wrote. “It has been an honor for me to serve with the officers of this department.”

The police chief did not return a request for comment by press time.

Since the pandemic, Lauer has been outspoken about the excessive amount of “overtime” hours he has worked as the department has struggled to hire a fourth officer.

“I have been very impressed with him, and the city is losing a true gem of a person and of a police chief,” Mayor Scott Chaplin said. “He will be greatly missed.”