Vancouver police Chief Jamie Graham is retiring after a tumultuous five-year term with the department.

At age 58, and after 40 years in policing, he is ready to step down, Graham said at a news briefing Thursday morning. He will retire when he finishes his contract in August.

Vancouver police Chief Jamie Graham says he's retiring, an announcement made just days after native leaders resurrected allegations of a police coverup in the death of a drunk aboriginal man.
(CBC)

"Age and tenure is a factor but I've done this a long time and you just tend to know," he said. "Everyone says you know when it's time, and it's time."

Graham has been involved in some controversy since he took the top job with Vancouver police in August 2002.

His decision to retire comes just days after native leaders resurrected allegations of a police coverup in the death of a drunk aboriginal man who was taken from a jail cell and dumped in a Vancouver alley.

The provincial government announced Thursday that it is calling an inquiry into Frank Paul's December 1998 death.

Asked for investigation into mayor's conduct

Graham has also been involved in other high-profile incidents during his time at the helm of the Vancouver police.

During Sam Sullivan's mayoral campaign, Graham asked the RCMP to investigate after Sullivan admitted that while he was a city councillor, he gave money to an addict to buy drugs.

And last summer, the police complaints commissioner began investigating Graham for leaving a used target practice sheet with bullet holes through the head of the silhouette on the desk of the city manager.

The chief had written on the sheet: "A bad day at the range is better than the best day at work."

Graham issued a written statement, saying: "The original gesture was made with only the most positive of intentions" and says he apologized to the manager.

Graham also had his share of challenges with the rank and file. He had to reprimand six police officers who admitted they beat up suspected drug dealers in the park in January 2003. 

Two of the men were officially stripped of their badges.

Four other officers involved in the beating received lesser degrees of punishment and were allowed to keep their jobs.

Retirement surprises mayor

Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan said Graham's retirement came as a surprise and disappointment. He said contract talks hadn't even started with the chief before he made his announcement. 

Sullivan said Graham helped boost the morale of the police force and achieved financial accountability. 

For his part, Graham called his relationship with Sullivan "very productive."

He said he's most proud of the work done on the Graham McMynn case. McMynn was kidnapped in south Vancouver last April, but freed by police when they raided a Surrey home eight days later.

Before joining the Vancouver force, Graham had served 34 years with the RCMP in British Columbia and Alberta.

Graham said it's too early for him to start considering other career options.

"It'd be most unfair to the Vancouver police if their chief starts wondering about and starts making inquiries with other agencies," he said. "My focus is this organization and that's where it will stay till mid-August."

With files from the Canadian Press