34 year veteran of Indiana State Police retiring from Lafayette Post

The Lafayette Post's public information officer is retiring after more than three decades.

Decades.

News 18's samantha thieke spoke with sergeant kim riley this morning.

She joins us with why the job was so important him.

Sam?

Meredith, sergeant riley is no stranger to our newscasts.

He's been a source of information for the community.

And it's the community he says kept him going throughout his career.

Riley "i've had a lot of good times here.

This place has been a great place to work.

The department has been great."

For the last 34 years, sergeant kim riley has served with the indiana state police.

He's been the lafayette post's public information officer for the last 15.

Riley "a lot of them call me grandpa or gramps because i'm kind of the older guy here."

But with age, comes expertise.

Mckee "having a trooper with that experience is invaluable, and having them as your pio is something that you really can't measure."

Friday was riley's last day with isp.

District commander lt.

Tom mckee says riley's positive attitude will be missed.

Mckee "you can call him at 2 in the morning because the interstate is shut down and we need to have somebody talking to the media.

He'll be there, in uniform without complaining."

But riley says that's one part of the job he is not sad about leaving behind.

Riley "the one thing i won't miss will be the phone calls from the media at 2 and 3 and 1 and at 10 o'clock on my days off or at night."

But there are some things riley will carry with him forever.

Nat sound--old sound bite from delphi homicide investigation riley "i was there at the crime scene.

I saw what most people will never get to see, hopefully.

It will stay in my mind for a long time."

The homicides of abby williams and libby german struck a personal note with riley.

Riley "i raised two girls myself, and just seeing those young girls being killed in the way they were, it just one of those things.

It will stay with me."

Riley says with the bad, came a lot of good.

And he's forever thankful for his time with the state police.

Riley "i've been a police officer for 37 years.

Part-time for three and 34 here, and i would not trade it."

Although riley's last day was friday, he officially retires november 16th.

Lieutenant tom mckee has taken over as public information officer.

Samantha thieke, news 18.