Patrol commander to retire

The commander of the state Highway Patrol announced today that he will retire Aug. 1.

Col. Walter J. Wilson Jr., a native of Tarboro, has served on the state Highway Patrol since 1980 when he was first assigned to Troop C, District III, in Raleigh.

He was appointed by former Gov. Mike Easley and sworn in as colonel last July to be teh patrol's 23rd commander.

"Col. Wilson has served the Highway Patrol honorably during his 29 years of service to the state of North Carolina," said Reuben Young, Secretary of the Department of Crime Control and Public Safety, in a statement. "We appreciate his dedication and commitment to highway safety."

"I have never regretted my career choice," Wilson wrote in a letter to the patrol. "As colonel I have worked hard to make things better for all employees. "

The text of his letter after the jump.

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Fellow Highway Patrol Employees,

Yesterday I notified Secretary Young of my intent to retire on August 1, 2009.

During my career I have met and worked with some truly outstanding people and I have thoroughly enjoyed working with each of you.  It is my belief that the North Carolina State Highway Patrol is the best law enforcement agency in the nation.

I have dedicated 29 years of my life to the Highway Patrol and our great state.  I have never regretted my career choice.  As Colonel I have worked hard to make things better for all employees.

I wish the very best to each of you and hope that we will see each other again in the near future.

Respectfully,

Colonel Walter J. Wilson, Jr.