N. Augusta police chief to retire

Lee Wetherington, chief of the North Augusta Department of Public Safety, said he still enjoys waking up for work every day. But he's ready to retire and spend more time with family.

In a letter submitted to Mayor Lark Jones on Tuesday, Chief Wetherington said it was "an appropriate time for me to retire and focus more time on those things that are important to me."

He will retire in February after 11 years as chief.

The announcement comes just weeks after Chief Wetherington was suspended for sending sexually explicit e-mails, but the suspension was not part of his decision to step down, he said.

"It's just the icing on the cake for 37 years of living in a glass bubble," he said.

Mayor Lark Jones said he never asked for Chief Wetherington's resignation or retirement but wasn't surprised because Chief Wetherington had recently discussed retiring in the next year.

Chief Wetherington wouldn't expand on his plans after retirement but said he will still spend his days in North Augusta.

"This year has brought several challenges to my life and has given me cause to reflect on the things that are most important to me," he said. "My wife developed serious health issues, that by the grace of God she has worked through and is overcoming. This event, in itself, causes one to put life into perspective and recognize that it is time to focus on family, including children, grandchildren and others."

Mayor Jones said the regional search for a replacement would begin in the fall, but he said he was "open minded" to hiring someone internally. In his letter of intent, Chief Wetherington said he would assist in the search.

Reach Julia Sellers at (706) 823-3424 or julia.sellers@augustachronicle.com.