Calgary police chief to turn in his badge

Calgary police Chief Jack Beaton is stepping down, saying he will retire by the end of the year so he canspend more time with his family.

Beaton made the announcement Wednesday afternoon.

The chief said he's proud of how safe Calgary became during his tenure and of his force's crackdown on organized crime. But he says he regrets he wasn't ableto getproper funding from all three levels of government forthe police force during his time at the helm.

"But they're on board province first, thefederal government is coming on board very shortly, so I would have liked to havestayed to see the end of that great relationship between the three levels of government."

Beaton has been amember of the Calgary Police Service for 31 years and becamechief inNovember 2000.

Last month,Beaton said he might consider staying on for another term. On Wednesday, Beaton said hewill onlyremain chief until his contract expires at the end of this year.