Hegerty, the department's first female chief, will retire on Nov. 16, according to a memo she addressed to the entire department and was dated today.In the memo, Hegerty said she had notified the Fire and Police Commission, the appointed city body that will select the next chief, to give them enough time to conduct a search."It has been a privilege to serve this community as a law enforcement officer for more than 30 years, and a distinct honor to serve as the chief of police for the past three years," she wrote in the memo.

In a statement, the mayor wrote that he understands "her decision to spend more time with her husband and pursue her personal interests".