New London – Police Chief Margaret Ackley announced to the city this week that she will retire on Jan. 10 — ending a 30-year career with the city that included a turbulent tenure as chief.

Ackley, who has been out of work since Nov. 8 for medical reasons and is not expected to return, submitted a one sentence resignation letter dated Dec. 27.

“City of New London, I plan to retire from the position of Police Chief on Tuesday January 10th, 2017,” the letter reads.

There were already indications in November from her attorney, Leon Rosenblatt, that Ackley was nearing retirement. Rosenblatt had said that Ackley was seeking treatment for a work-related injury to her right elbow that was possibly related to nerve damage in her spine.

Rosenblatt had also said at that time that Ackley was tired of what he described as a consistent effort by the local union to undermine her and cast her in a negative light. Ackley has said little publicly during times of controversy.

Mayor Michael Passero declined any comment on any past frictions between the city and the Ackley — including her pending breach of contract lawsuit against the city.

Passero called Ackley’s appointment as the first female police chief in the city in 2009 a milestone.

“The chief has served the city with distinction for over 30 years,” Passero said. “The city is grateful for her years of service. Her retirement is well-deserved.”

Both Passero and Chief Administrative Officer Steve Fields, a retired state police lieutenant colonel, said because of the experience and abilities of Acting Police Chief Peter Reichard, the city has the luxury of moving deliberately on its search for the next chief.

“(Reichard) is running the department now and has our complete confidence as acting chief,” Passero said. “The transition of leadership at the department is well underway.”

While details of the search for a new chief have yet to be worked out, both Passero and Fields indicated that Reichard’s application for that post would be readily accepted.

Reichard was hired to serve as deputy police chief by former Mayor Daryl Justin Finizio in 2012. Reichard spent 22 years with the New Haven Police Department and retired in 2010 as assistant police chief. He was not immediately available for comment.

Ackley’s departure will end several years of tumult for her and the city that have involved investigations of wrongdoing against Ackley, a lawsuit against Ackley by the local police union president, and a lawsuit by Ackley against the city.

Ackley does not currently have a contract with the city but signed an agreement with Finizio to not only keep her from retiring but also to pay her $25,000 to settle a harassment complaint she had threatened against former mayoral candidate Michael Buscetto.

The agreement was later rejected by the City Council, which led to her filing a lawsuit in 2013.

Finizio suspended Ackley for about 10 months with pay starting in 2014 during an investigation into alleged misconduct, including a claim she had undermined union contract negotiations. An independent investigator, however, dismissed those claims and cleared her of any wrongdoing.

After her 10 months out of work, Ackley had returned to her post but continued to take time off — 118 days or about one-third of her work days — between May 2015 and October of 2016. Reichard was acting chief during all of Ackley’s time off.

City records show Ackley, who started with the department in 1986, earned a $110,725 annual salary. She is part of the Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement System, a public pension plan provided by the state. Under existing rules for municipal employees in the system, her pension will consist of 50 percent of the top three years of her salary during her first 20 years plus an additional 2 percent for each additional year worked after 25 years.

Ackley was not immediately available for comment. Local police union president Todd Lynch said the union would withhold comment until after Jan. 10.

g.smith@theday.com