Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos announced Thursday he has accepted the resignation of the country’s chief of police.
Santos, accompanied by the resigning General Oscar Naranjo, confirmed rumors about the pending resignation during a press conference in the capital Bogota.
“The sad moments always come,” said Santos, praising the outgoing police commander’s work as “extraordinary.”
The president said the police commander decided to resign because of his wish only to stay on for five years.
Naranjo and Santos agreed that the police commander will stay on until the beginning of July to give the government the time to look for a successor.
The National Police commander was the longest serving commander of Colombia’s armed forces and internationally recognized for his work.
The International Association of Chiefs of Police named Naranjo the best policeman in the world in 2010.