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Chief James R. Bryant will officially hand over the reins of the Salem Police Department on November 1, when his 43-year-career ends and his retirement begins.

"You always have someone to answer to, everybody has a boss, and in retirement the only one I'm going to have to answer to will be my wife [of 42 years, Lois Ann,]" he said.

"What I'm looking forward to most is not having a schedule to follow, not having to be in any given place at a given time, and having the freedom of doing whatever I want to do," said Bryant. "And to have the luxury of making up my mind if I want to do anything in particular on a given day," he added.

The chief has earned himself just a little bit of free time, after dedicating his time and his life to public service and to bettering himself in order to serve better.

Before his career began with the city, Bryant served with the Marine Corps. He began taking classes at Virginia Western and earned his associate's degree.

Bryant was appointed to Chief of Police at the department in 1995. The following year he earned his bachelor degree from Bluefield College.

He also graduated from the prestigious FBI National Academy in 1983. This academy is only attended by one half of one percent of all law enforcement officers worldwide, he said.

He's amazed at how many people remember him and the things he did that helped them while he was just doing his job.

"It's gratifying to know that you've touched lives in positive ways," he said.

Even as an uncle, Bryant held quite a weight with even his nephew Brian Chisom's friends. A card sitting on his nearly empty desk from one of them had just the right words to describe it:

"Just one look and man you scared us to death. That served us well ... but you always made us feel like we were better than that, in turn you helped us to be good men."

Apparently he was a role model to many, but he also developed a protégé, Lt. Joe Mills, who lived in the same neighborhood as Bryant and who now serves with the Salem Police Department. Mills also graduated from Bluefield College and is a recent graduate of the FBI National Academy.

Here's what James Bryant has to say to Salem.

"I would like to express to the citizens that I have served for 43 years that it has been my pleasure and honor to serve them. Police work is all that I have ever wanted to do, and I have been very fortunate to be successful. And I thank the city and the citizens for the opportunity that they have afforded me.

I would also like to thank all the hard working and dedicated employees, both past and present, who have made my 43 years of service with the Salem Police Department possible. Without the leadership and dedication you have shown to your jobs, this day for me would not have been possible."

Click here to read the news release from the city about Bryant's retirement, click here to read more about Dudley's promotion.