Selma Police Chief John Brock, who announced his retirement as police chief, said Mayor Darrio Melton asked him to step down.

“He asked. I’m going to be honest,” Brock said Tuesday morning. “I’m not bitter. I’m not mad. It’s just time for a change.”

Melton would not confirm Tuesday if he asked Brock to step down or not.

“I can’t speak to what the chief says,” Melton said. “People are going to say what they want to say. I’ll tell you this. He gave me a letter that he was retiring.”

Brock said his retirement has been discussed between himself and Melton for several weeks. His retirement was announced Monday in a press release from the mayor’s office. According to the release, Brock would retire effectively Jan. 1, 2017, and Captain Johnny King would serve as interim chief.

Brock said he understands Melton’s decision to go in a new direction for the department.

“I have different emotions about it,” he said. “I’m not bitter or angry. My family, we’ve talked about this for several years now, especially when I hit 30 [years].”

Brock said he already planned to retire after 30 years of service to the department before he was named police chief by former Mayor George Evans in September 2015. Brock took the place of fomer Police Chief William Riley, who took the same job in Inkster, Michigan.

Brock, who is now 56 years old, has been in law enforcement since he was a teenager.

“It’s been a long ride. Ups and downs, curves over the years, but it’s been a pretty good ride,” he said. “I’ve enjoyed it. I’ve been up here my whole adult life.”

Brock started out at the age of 17 working as a dispatcher for the city.

“I started here in 1979 part-time, and when I turned 21 Cotton Nichols was the sheriff here and he hired me here as a deputy,” Brock said. “I went out there, and then four and a half years I stayed there and then came back to work for the city, and I’ve been here ever since.”

Brock said he is proud of the shape he is leaving the department in since taking over.

“I think I left the department in better shape than it was when I got it financially,” Brock said. “I think financially wise we’re in a lot better shape than we were.”

He said he is also proud of getting a 10 percent raise for his officers, which is something he set out to do when he was appointed chief.

“I’m glad we got the 10 percent. I’m so glad we got that,” Brock said. “They needed it. It was about time. They need more, but it’s about time.”

Brock said he is not sure what the future has in store for him, but he did not rule out a future that includes law enforcement.

Melton said Tuesday there is still no timeline on when Brock’s replacement will be hired. Melton said Monday he has no one specific in mind to run the department, and he is open to finding the best person for the job.