COLUMBUS, Miss. (WTVA) – The last official day of duty for Columbus’ chief of police will be December 28.

Chief Oscar Lewis submitted his letter of retirement on Monday, December 11.

“I would like to thank you all for the opportunity afforded me to serve this community as their Chief of Police,” he stated in the letter. “I have served this community twenty-three of my twenty-five years in law enforcement and I consider it an honor and a privilege. This has been a great experience for me and I pray I have served you well.”

He also thanked and commended his fellow officers in the department.

"You carried on this department's crime fighting efforts when our numbers were at their lowest and you continue to do a great job although criticism of this profession is at an all-time high."

Lewis was hired as chief in January 2016 after serving as police chief in Waynesboro.

He has come under fire in recent months, especially after a consultant’s review of the police department recommended that the city get rid of Lewis. City leaders decided against that recommendation.