After nearly three decades in law enforcement, Fort Dodge Police Department Chief Roger Porter is ready to hang up his hat.

Porter plans to retire from the department next April.

“I look forward to starting a new chapter and doing something a little different,” Porter told The Messenger on Wednesday.

The chief said he’ll be turning 55 in April and eligible to receive his retirement pension. He also wants to spend more time with his family and maybe start a second career.

“I want to be young enough to do something different,” Porter said. “I don’t want to be too old and not be able to do different things with my life.”

Fort Dodge Mayor Matt Bemrich commended Porter on his years serving the Fort Dodge community.

“I’ve gotten to work with a number of police chiefs over my time in office and Chief Porter has been very dedicated to our community and the safety of our officers on the street,” Bemrich said. “He’s always made it a very high priority to keep them up to date on training and equipment. I’m very proud of his efforts and his service to Fort Dodge.”

Porter has also extended that service beyond the borders of the city, sharing his time and talents with other communities and law enforcement agencies, Bemrich said.

“His service to our community is one that he should be very proud of, and his family should be very proud of,” he said.

Porter’s tenure at the FDPD started in 1996 when he was hired as an officer under then-Police Chief Ivan Metzger. Over the years, Porter worked his way up the ranks, receiving a promotion to sergeant in November 2000. He was later promoted to lieutenant in 2004, and then to captain in November 2007. From September 2014 until the Fort Dodge City Council appointed him chief, Porter also served as the acting assistant police chief.

Porter was appointed chief of police by Fort Dodge City Manager David Fierke in March 2017, and was confirmed by the city council later that month. Porter became chief on July 3, replacing the late Chief Kevin Doty, who retired in December 2017.

During his career, Porter has commanded a patrol shift and the department’s Criminal Investigations Division. He has also led the Fort Dodge/Webster County Special Emergency Response Team, which handles things like barricaded suspects and high-risk search warrants.

The Fort Dodge Civil Service Commission will meet later this month when it will, among other business, discuss recruitment for candidates for the next chief of police.