Village police chief Michael Crippen has announced his intention to retire at the end of September.

Crippen, 52, has been with the force for 29 years and will join sergeant Joe Kenney, another department veteran who announced his retirement last week. The pair went to school together and spent their entire careers in law enforcement working together.

"I've done it so long it's at the point that I want to do something different," Crippen said Tuesday afternoon.

But just what he'll be doing in retirement, he hasn't decided.

"Nothing specific. My wife and I like to travel. I'd like to drive out to see Arizona. Maybe travel to Mt. Rushmore," he said.

"I don't have hobbies. I tried golfing, but I don't know how anyone has the patience for it. I failed miserably so I know golfing won't be it," he added.

"Maybe I should be a newspaper reporter. It apparently doesn't require much skill," he said with a smile, displaying the sense of humor that is a prerequisite for surviving 29 years in law enforcement.

Crippen joined the force in August 1976 and became chief of the department in April 1984.

There is no one case or incident that stands out in his mind over all the years.

"There's nothing extraordinary," Crippen said. "I'm kind of pleased there isn't anything memorable because it means it would have been a negative impact on somebody,"

Asked why he got into law enforcement, Crippen said it was simple, "I needed a job when I got out of the Marine Corps. It was not fulfilling a dream to be police officer, but I found I liked it once I tried it."

Of all the changes he seen over the years, the advent of computers is probably the biggest, he said.

"When I started there wasn't even a county-wide police communication system," Crippen said. "Computers have been a good change. They are a useful tool for law enforcement."

He said the most important attribute for the next chief is to keep the mindset that you are a small department despite all the visitors that come to Cooperstown each year.

"The bottom line is to keep in mind the 2,400 year-around residents. They're the ones you answer to on a daily basis."

Crippen said what he will miss the most is his co-workers. Not just those in the department, but throughout the village and fellow officers in the sheriff's department and state police.

Trustee Jeff Katz serves on the village's police committee and said he has known Crippen for only a few months, but he as many very likeable qualities, including his sense of humor.

"He's a good guy to work with. He's open-minded enough to a part of the process," Katz said.

"We're sad he's retiring. We wish him well and thank him for his many years of service to village," mayor Carol Waller said.