Chief State's Attorney Kevin T. Kane, Connecticut's longest-serving top prosecutor and, prior to that, a longtime presence in New London courtrooms, has announced he is retiring Nov. 1.

Kane, 76, is three years into his third five-year term as the head of the state's Division of Criminal Justice. He announced his retirement on Monday at a monthly meeting of prosecutors.

He said by phone Tuesday afternoon that he has been postponing retirement for a long time and wants to spend time with his family. Kane was Connecticut's seventh chief state's attorney. The Criminal Justice Commission, made up of six members appointed by the governor, is charged with interviewing and naming a replacement.

The chief state's attorney heads up the Division of Criminal Justice, an independent agency of the state's executive branch of government, which includes the main office in Rocky Hill and state's attorney's offices in each of the state's 13 judicial districts.

During his tenure, Kane struggled to maintain adequate staffing despite shrinking resources, remained committed to solving cold cases, supported an early intervention program for low-level offenders and got behind a criminal justice information sharing system that will make the work of prosecutors more transparent to the public. He testified before the legislature on a regular basis on a wide range of topics, including the state's evolving juvenile justice system.

"I think we preserved the professionalism and the integrity of the prosecutors in Connecticut," Kane said. "We have a great group of very dedicated prosecutors and inspectors and investigators who are committed to serving the public and doing so in a professional way that seeks justice."

Gov. Ned Lamont issued a news release thanking Kane for nearly five decades of service to the people of Connecticut and wishing him well in retirement.

"Beginning his career as a prosecutor nearly 47 years ago in the former Ninth Circuit in Middletown, Attorney Kane rose through the ranks and eventually became our state's seventh and longest serving Chief State's Attorney," Lamont said the statement. "Attorney Kane worked on and oversaw some of our state's most challenging, important, and complex cases. He has worked tirelessly and dedicated his career to pursuing justice and ensuring fairness in our criminal justice system. I thank Attorney Kane and wish him well in his much deserved retirement."

Connecticut U.S. Attorney John Durham said via email that he was sorry to hear Kane is retiring.

"Over the years, there have been few people, if any, in the state criminal justice system with whom we've had a closer working relationship," Durham said. "We have the highest regard for his judgment, abilities and dedication to the job. It's a huge loss to the criminal justice system in our state.  At the same time, after so many years of dedicated service, he's more than entitled to have some time to relax and to spend time with his family. I wish him the best."

Kane's close friends and longtime co-workers in New London tried to adjust to the idea of his retirement. He had served as state's attorney in New London for 11 years before being appointed as chief state's attorney. He and his co-workers could often be seen walking briskly along the streets of downtown New London during lunch hours, deep in conversation. 

He prosecuted some of the state's most notorious criminals, including serial killer Michael Ross, and Beth Carpenter and Haiman Clein, two local attorneys who were convicted in the 1994 murder-for-hire death of Anson "Buzz" Clinton in East Lyme.

"I'm truly saddened for the Division of Criminal justice. But he deserves a happy and life enriching retirement. He's worked so hard forever," said Superior Court Judge Peter A. McShane, who worked as a state's attorney under Kane in New London and tried the Ross and Carpenter cases with him.

McShane said Kane "has a good heart and a great mind," along with a distinctive hearty laugh.

"When he laughs, everybody laughs, and he's usually laughing at himself," McShane said. 

New London State's Attorney Michael L. Regan said Kane deserves his retirement. He was always so dedicated, Regan said, and there was always one more task to complete.

"He was probably one of the most intelligent attorneys I ever met," Regan said. "I would say to myself if Kevin had not become an attorney, he would probably become a chess grandmaster. He was always thinking three or four steps ahead of everybody else."

Paul J. Narducci, supervisory assistant state's attorney in the New London Judicial District, said he attended Monday's meeting of state's attorneys and choked up upon hearing Kane's announcement. He, too, had worked with Kane in the New London State's Attorney's office.

"We've become so accustomed to his leadership," Narducci said. "You couldn't ask for a better leader. He was always the rock, the most stable person. He was just the Rock of Gibraltar for the entire division."

Narducci said Kane always seemed to know the right thing to do and always did it.

"Kevin is going to be hard to replace," said one of Kane's closest friends, retired detective and inspector John T. "Jack" Edwards. "I don't know of anybody who is more pure than Kevin Kane as far as criminal justice and dealing with the public."

k.florin@theday.com