Joe Bail saw this one coming.
The top cop in Chester has spent 45 years in policing, the last three in the spotlight as the top cop in Chester.
It's not an easy job. It's a tough town. Bail never tried to sugarcoat it.
He also knew he served at the political whims of the city's political power brokers.
He was asked to be police commissioner by John Linder when the Democrat won City Hall 2012.
But Linder was defeated in his bid for a second term in the Democratic Primary by longtime Democratic state Rep. Thaddeus Kirkland. He will face former Republican Mayor Wendell Butler at the polls next week.
Both men indicated they would seek new leadership of the city's police department, likely asking former Chief Darren Alston to return to that post.
No one had to explain the way things worked to Bail.
Yesterday, at the regular City Council meeting, he announced his retirement.
Bail has served his home town a long time. He's worked every beat, held every rank. He retired once, then was coaxed back. This time there likely will no coming back.
Chester continues to have serious issues with random gun violence. It is tied at the hip with a flourishing drug trade that continues to be the bane of city officials, police included.
The city's homicide rate has gone up the last few years, but serious crime in general has gone down.
There is only one thing left.
That is to thank a man who served the city his entire life.
Thanks, Commissioner.
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