Lubbock Police Chief Greg Stevens To Leave Lubbock According To A Report

UPDATED at 4:15 PM with new details and quotes*****

After 27 years as serving in the Lubbock Police Department, Chief Greg Stevens announced his retirement on Tuesday, April 16th. His retirement from the Lubbock Police Department will become effective on May 31st.

Stevens first joined the Lubbock Police Department in 1992 and has served in nearly all roles within the department.

Stevens is the sole finalist for the same position in Rockport, TX and if he accepts the position, he will begin working with the department in June. According to a press release from the Lubbock Police Department, Stevens' move is part of a long-term goal.

“Years ago, my wife and I set a long term goal of sometime retiring to the Texas coast, and we’ve planned for that goal financially and career wise,” said Stevens. “This opportunity has come along for me to accelerate our goal to relocate to the coast and to continue working in law enforcement in an ideal retirement capacity.”

Stevens' called his work in the Lubbock Police Department "rewarding".

“The last few years of my life have been some of the most rewarding. I can’t say enough how much I appreciate the hard work and dedication of each of LPD’s officers,” he said. “I owe a great deal of what I have and what I have become to LPD and the people of Lubbock, but the time has come to start a new chapter in my life.”

Stevens will retire with a combined 31 years of law enforcement service through the military and the Lubbock Police Department.

***Original Story***

According to a report from KRISTV.com, Lubbock Police Chief Greg Stevens is the sole finalist for the position of Chief of Police in Rockport, TX.

According to the report, Stevens is set to retire from the Lubbock Police Department but will accept the job in Rockport. The report also said that Stevens' decision to retire was because he was no longer enjoying aspects of the job.

“It was getting to the point where I was no longer enjoying the aspects of law enforcement that had drawn me in the first place – community engagement, hands-on involvement and camaraderie,” Stevens said.  “I could have retired from the industry completely, but I wasn’t ready to settle down or tackle a new industry.

“The timing of the opening was uncanny as my wife and I had always planned to retire to the Texas Coastal Bend area. Now, I’ll be able to continue what I love doing in a place I’ve always wanted to be.”

Chief Stevens was instrumental in moving the Lubbock Police Department towards community policing and an advocate for the building of police substations around Lubbock.

Rockport has a population of just over 7,200.

KFYO will update this story as more information becomes available.