BRIDGEWATER, VA (Rocktown Now) — The Town of Bridgewater’s Chief of Police is retiring at the end of the week.

Chief Phillip Read will retire this Friday after five years as Bridgewater’s Chief and seventeen years total serving in law enforcement.

Read is reportedly stepping into the private sector role of Assistant Director of Plant Protection at Merck in Elkton.

Town officials state that under Read’s community-focused leadership the police department has thrived.

Along with the Town Manager, former Chief Joe Simmons will be leading the search for Read’s replacement.