Carnegie residents probably will start lining up soon to say farewell to their well-respected and highly visible police chief, Jeffrey Harbin, even though his official retirement date is still four years away.

Borough council voted unanimously Monday to advertise an ordinance that would authorize the chief's participation in a Deferred Retirement Option Plan, which would set his retirement date on April 3, 2014 -- his 60th birthday.

Solicitor Vincent Tucceri explained the state legislature grants police officers the opportunity to declare their intentions to retire irrevocably. DROP pension plans provide such officers with a lump sum of monthly pension payments that have been deposited in a savings account between the time of retirement declaration and actual departure.

In turn, DROP pension plans allow communities to get ready for the future. In Chief Harbin's case, he will have the chance to prepare his successor.

Chief Harbin, 55, a Carnegie native, had hinted earlier this winter that he was thinking of retirement.

"I've been in a uniform since I was 18," he said then, referring first to his service with the Marines and then his career in law enforcement, which began when he became a Carnegie patrolman in 1976.

In 1988, he was promoted to sergeant and in early 1992 was named chief after serving as acting chief for a short time.

"I love Carnegie. I can't see myself not being involved in Carnegie in some way," he said Tuesday.

Still, as a hands-on chief who sticks to a regimented schedule, he concedes the job is demanding.

"You can never really relax. I owe it to [my wife] LouAnn to do some things we haven't been able to do," he said.

He also would like to volunteer at places like the Veterans Administration and animal hospitals.

Councilman Pat Catena, who has known Chief Harbin since childhood, said, "I knew that this day would come, but the chief has tirelessly dedicated himself to Carnegie and he deserves this."

"We all hate to see him go. He will be sorely missed," added Councilwoman Carol Ann Covi.

With accrued vacation and sick time, Chief Harbin, who was eligible to retire in April 2009, could leave at the end of 2013.

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