POST FALLS — Scot Haug will hang up his badge and go to work for his two sons.

Haug, Post Falls police chief for the past eight years who has worked for the department all 32 years of his law enforcement career, said on Wednesday he will retire effective March 31, 2018.

"I started to reflect on my personal life and the department," he said. "Things are going so smooth at the department and my family has been somewhat on the back burner for 32 years.

"It's time for someone else to take the helm and, with leadership change comes ideas and opportunities to do other things."

After retirement, Haug said he plans to work for the custom home builder Selkirk Construction owned by he and wife Debbie's two sons Tyler, 27, and Cameron, 20.

"We started the family business several years ago and it's been successful," Haug said. "What better opportunity for a dad to have than to work for and spend time with his sons?"

Haug has been a silent partner in the business.

"My sons have done all of the heavy lifting, but that will probably change soon," Haug said with a laugh. "You won't see me out framing homes or pouring concrete — that's not my level of expertise — but I'll be working with designers and customers managing projects."

Kootenai County Sheriff Ben Wolfinger plans to retire in three and a half years and Haug said he'll consider running for that position.

"I've had a couple people approach me about running for sheriff, so I've left that door cracked just a bit," he said.

Post Falls Mayor Ron Jacobson said Haug spoke with him about retirement on Tuesday, so he and the City Council haven't had time to set a course of action to find Haug's replacement.

"The good thing is that the chief has given us eight months’ notice," Jacobson said.

Jacobson thanked Haug, Post Falls' Citizen of the Year in 2015, for 32 years of service to the community and police department.

"Under Chief Haug’s leadership the PFPD is recognized as a leader in innovation and technology," Jacobson said. "The chief’s commitment to build a strong relationship between the police department and the community is paying off as we see a declining crime rate and a current approval rating of over 95 percent (from random resident surveys)."

Haug, 49, said he has had opportunities to work elsewhere, but he has enjoyed working for the community he grew up in so much he decided to stay put.

"To me it's never been about the money or taking that next leap," he said. "It's been about working somewhere I've enjoyed."

Haug said he realized what he's most proud of — the staff and volunteers — while attending a recent community event.

"A line of people formed not to talk to Scot Haug, but the police chief," he said. "They wanted to tell me about the positive experiences they've had with the department, from an officer who found a runaway to one who assisted someone who had overdosed on drugs. Some agencies have people wanting to talk to the chief, but it's not because they have compliments."

The department had about 10 employees when Haug started. Today, it has more than 100 employees and volunteers combined.

Haug began his career at PFPD as a volunteer reserve officer. He then worked his way up the ranks, including as a reserve sergeant, animal safety officer, code enforcement officer, patrol officer, field training officer, sergeant, lieutenant and captain before becoming chief in 2009.

Haug is a 2010 graduate of the Post Falls Chamber of Commerce River City Leadership Academy, a member of the Post Falls Community Volunteers, a graduate of the FBI National Academy and served as president of the Montana-Idaho Chapter of the FBI National Associates.

He has been an Idaho Peace Officer Standards and Training instructor since 1992, served as the primary arrest techniques instructor at North Idaho College and is trained in SWAT tactic and command.

Under Haug, PFPD has been recognized as one of the most proactive police agencies in the country in terms of embracing technology to solve crime, increasing efficiency and communicating with the public.

He organized virtual ridealongs on Facebook and Twitter to educate the public on what officers face each day on the streets. The ridealongs serve as a forum for residents to ask questions.

In his resignation letter to Jacobson, Haug said he believes the city can find the next chief internally due to capable leadership. He said that decision, however, is ultimately up to the mayor and council.

"This decision (to retire) has been a heart-head struggle for me, one that has been difficult to make as I have been committed to this department for the past 32 years," Haug wrote in a letter to Jacobson. "I will always be eternally grateful for the opportunity I've had to serve Post Falls and the outstanding employees of the Post Falls Police Department."