Richmond Police Chief Alfred Durham is done.

He wrapped up Dec. 20 by issuing promotions to 12 officers, including naming three deputy chiefs and tapping one, William C. Smith, to serve as acting chief.

Saying “I’m burned out; I have nothing else to give,” Chief Durham walked out of his office for the final time and headed to see family in Washington. He turned in his badge and department-issued gun as he took vacation ahead of his official retirement date on Dec. 31 from his Richmond post and policing.

His retirement will bring to an end a 31-year career in law enforcement, along with four years of active duty in the U.S. Marine Corps and 13 years in its reserves.

Now 55, he rose to deputy chief in Washington during his 25 years there and served as a major and chief of staff in Richmond before becoming Richmond’s 18th police chief in February 2015.

He will leave behind a department that has become the best in the country in solving homicides as a result of the hard work of officers and detectives and strong community support, but which remains short-handed as it struggles to fill its ranks.

Acting Chief Smith, who had been Chief Durham’s chief of staff, will serve as the department’s commander until Mayor Levar M. Stoney and Selena Cuffee-Glenn, the city’s chief administrative officer, name an interim chief during the search for Chief Durham’s successor.

Essentially leaving his stamp on the department before his successor arrives, Chief Durham also promoted Maj. Sydney G. Collier, who previously served as acting deputy chief of patrol and major of Operations Area 1 for First Precinct and Second Precinct, to deputy chief for operations.

Chief Durham also promoted William Friday, a civilian from finance to deputy chief for business services, while giving Maj. Darrell Goins, who had been serving as acting deputy chief for business and support services, command of Operations Area 1.

In a press release on the promotions and in comments to reporters on his final day, Chief Durham urged Mayor Stoney to look inside the department for his replacement rather than continuing the practice of previous mayors and city councils of choosing a chief from elsewhere.

“One of the strengths of the RPD is the outstanding quality of its officers and civilian employees,” Chief Durham stated in announcing the promotions. “As I retire, I know these new assignments will secure the progress we have made in the nearly four years I was chief.”

During a discussion with reporters, he emphasized the point.

“We have the talent. … I’m confident there are several members of the senior command staff that could step up.”

Along with naming six new sergeants and two lieutenants, Chief Durham promoted Capt. John O’Kleasky to major and put him in charge of Operations Area 2, which includes Third Precinct and Fourth Precinct.

Chief Durham expressed pride that violent crime had dipped this year after a spike in 2017.

He leaves behind a department that is better equipped with computers in cars and body-worn cameras, which have helped dispel false complaints, he said, such as the one spread by gardening activist Duron Chavis about being stopped for the “smell of marijuana” rather than because he was driving a car with expired license tags and an expired inspection sticker. During the stop, officers also learned he was driving on a suspended license, the chief said.

Chief Durham, who spent his final day wearing a suit and tie, said he realized he needed to retire on Nov. 12, Veterans Day, when he got an email “saying citizens are complaining about traffic and speeding.

“I’ve said over and over again that, with limited resources, we’re going to try and do the very best we can, but that was not an acceptable answer to her,” he told reporters. “And it hit me, and I said, ‘If I can’t even solve a simple traffic problem, then it’s time for me to go.’ ”

Known for his personal touch and willingness to go out to meet and build relationships with residents, he said he sought to “build those bonds, creating those bridges that we can cross together in making this city a better place.”

He said he would maintain a residence in Richmond and hinted about playing a future role in an organization that seeks to help young people find the road to achievement and success.

“I feel in my heart that there is still work for me to do here,” he said, noting that out of uniform, “I won’t be as restricted.”

In his view, police must do more than arrest people in order to deal with crime, and he cited two programs he considers proactive alternatives.

He spoke with pride about working with ex-inmates who created the RVA League for Safer Streets, which provides financial and life skills workshops along with competitive basketball for residents of public housing.

He also touted the work of LIFE, Law Enforcement Intervention Focused on Education, a nine-week program that seeks to keep youths out of juvenile court.

Chief Durham also has ensured that officers get crisis training to better deal with people with mental health issues. At this point, two-thirds of Richmond’s officers have received the training, with the remaining officers to receive training during the next two years.

He also installed classes to reduce implicit bias for officers responding to complaints and pushed gender and racial inclusion.

Chief Durham also said that he has laid the groundwork for his successor to install a new records management system in the next two years that would improve the collection of data and for bringing back an improved red-light camera operation to replace the faulty one he dropped in 2015.

Still, he’s not unhappy to give up the stress and lack of sleep he has coped with as the department’s leader. He’s glad to give up the 3 a.m. calls about violent crimes and more than ready to focus more on his own problems, he said.

He said that officer-involved shootings took a toll on him, and he’s ready for someone else to deal with the aftermath.

If he leaves a positive legacy, it “is not just for me,” he said. “That legacy is for every member of this police department and the work they have done; for my fellow colleagues in local government who have supported me; and citizens in the community; and you, the media who share and tell our story.”