Retiring Colorado Springs Police Chief Pete Carey talks what’s next for him and the department

Come February, the Colorado Springs Police Department will need a new chief.

Current Chief Pete Carey said he’s going to retire after seven years in his position, and a total of 34 years with CSPD.

“It’s an honor to have done this for so long,” Carey said.

In a one-on-one interview with KRDO NewsChannel 13, Carey said he’s retiring due to the long hours away from his family.

“It’s time for a change and I really feel in my heart the police department is in a good position to go forward and I think the next leader, he or she, can do a good job and take it to the next level,” Carey said.

Looking back, Carey said he’s proud of what the department has become.

“I think there’s been a culture shift to one of service,” Carey said.

Adding there’s nothing he’d change about his tenure as chief.

“I think we’re in a good place culturally, ethically, in the way that we deliver our service so I’m very very proud of that,” Carey said.

Looking forward, he recognizes his successor will inherit some challenges. The biggest hurdle is one Carey’s been tackling during his time is the balance of staffing and response times. He said he’s losing anywhere from two to six officers every month.

“When people leave the police department here, we pay attention to why they’re leaving, and a lot of cases it’s because of family dynamics. Their husband or their wife, or someone in their family doesn’t want them to do a dangerous job, and I get that,” Carey said. “So how do we offer incentives and things like that to come and do this?”

Carey adds homelessness issues and traffic safety will also be crucial for the next chief.

As for what kind of leader CSPD needs next, Carey believes it’s a supportive chief with a strategic vision.

“One of the most difficult challenges for police chief is to know what needs to be changed or at least directed to a different outcome. And then in a lot of cases, just getting out of the way and let our officers do their job,” Carey said.

What’s next for Carey? Rumors have gone around suggesting Carey’s going back to the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office. Carey started his law enforcement career there in 1982.

“I’ve heard those rumors and again, that’s like any other rumor, it’s a lot of talk,” Carey said. “So I’ve got some decisions to make. But right now, I just want to leave the police department in the best hands I can.”

“It’s an honor to have done this for so long.” – Chief Pete Carey

We sit down with the outgoing CSPD chief tonight on @KRDONC13 at 10 p.m. pic.twitter.com/9YbPTDW93x

— Colleen Sikora KRDO (@ColleenSikora) December 4, 2018

But for his 34 years at CSPD, Carey said it’s been an honor.

“I can’t believe I get paid a couple bucks to be a police officer and when it’s all said and done it’s not police chief, it’s being a cop,” Carey said, pointing to his badge.

Carey’s last day is Feb. 1. He believes there will be people on a national level that will want the job. But he adds, he’s leaving Colorado Springs Mayor John Suthers with a list of good candidates from inside the department.