Chief Robert Hetner, of the South Williamsport Police Department, will be retiring from his position effective Oct. 31 after 38 years with the department.

South Williamsport Borough Council unanimously accepted the job description for the soon opened position at a meeting Monday night and is currently looking within the department for Hetner’s replacement.

Two officers with the department have shown interest in the position, Hetner said. The officers will then undergo an interviewing process where the council will decide if the borough will choose a chief internally, or will look outward for a new chief.

“They are going to decide from there if they are going to promote one of them or if they will advertise,” Hetner said.

Before taking the position as chief, Hetner had acted as officer, corporal and captain within the department. To Hetner, working with the community has been a highlight of his time on the force and the six years he has acted as chief.

“I have been very thankful for the citizens of South Williamsport, Borough Council and the mayors over the years,” he said, adding that he felt it was time for him to retire. “The job is as demanding as ever and it’ll be nice to take some of that pressure away, but I leave with mixed feelings.”

During the meeting the board approved Hilarie German to fill a vacant first ward council seat. German, a South Williamsport Junior/Senior High School math teacher, will be replacing council member Fred March.

In attendance were Daniel Cupp, Joseph LaRue Jr., John Decker, J. Bernard Schelb, Corey Lehman, Hilarie German and Carl Nolan. Robert Cronin and David Geise was absent.