Capt. Roger Wilson of the Brookhaven Police Department hasserved under four police chiefs and has seen his share of what thestreets of Brookhaven hold. After 27 years, he said he’s ready fora break.

“I’ll miss it though,” said Wilson, whose last day as a policeofficer is Tuesday. “As close as we work, we’re like a big familyup here. Everyone watches out for everyone else.”

Police Chief Pap Henderson said Wilson’s vacant desk willeventually be filled, but the hole he leaves in the policedepartment family will never be.

“You don’t fill his shoes, you just hope you hire an adequatereplacement,” said Henderson. “He’s been an excellent officer frompatrol on up. He’s been so supportive of this department, anddedication like that is hard to replace.”

Wilson said he’s had adventures he’ll never forget, such as oneday when he was trying to apprehend a suspect and was injured inthe line of duty.

“The day I got my head busted open,” he said while recalling theevent. “I got thrown backwards and busted my head on a console TV.Of course, the rumor got out that I’d gotten shot in the head.”

Assistant Police Chief Nolan Jones remembers that day, too.

“He tore up a perfectly good TV,” he said laughing. “I thinkhe’s still got ‘Magnavox’ tattooed on the back of his head.”

Wilson also remembers defining moments that made him realizethat sometimes law enforcement for a city cop actually extendsbeyond the city limits. He spoke of one case where a key-swappingsituation at a local auto dealership turned out to be a multi-stateauto theft ring.

“Chris Palmer up in Crystal Springs and I broke that case,” hesaid. “The ringleader is in prison right now. He had charges inAlabama and Louisiana, too.”

But the glory and adventure doesn’t come without a price. Wilsonsaid there are parts of life he had to give up along the waybecause he’d decided to dedicate his life to the badge.

“I’ve missed birthdays and Christmases in past years, becausesomeone has to be on duty those days too,” he said. “That’s toughwhen your kids are little.”

Henderson said it was that kind of dedication that made Wilsonthe obvious choice for investigator when he was elected as policechief.

“I could always count on Roger to represent the PoliceDepartment well,” he said. “Years ago when I had to have people forthe ballgames, Roger wanted to work them. That really helped me outbecause that meant I had a supervisor out there as well. You can’treplace things like that.”

Wilson said there are parts of his day that will be extremelydifferent, such as the time he’s gotten used to spending with hisfellow investigators every day, updating each other on cases.

“Every morning we sit back here, Assistant Chief Jones and Capt.(Bobby) Bell and I, and we compare notes,” he said. “We keep thelines of communication open because if we don’t talk about ourcases, we might have information the other ones need but we’d neverknow it.”

And Wilson said after all the police chiefs he’s known,Henderson has been the one who has taught him the most.

“I’m not just saying it because he’s sitting here,” he said.”He’s helped me more than anyone in all those years. He’s given memore as far as guidance, my job, and even in my personal life thananyone I’ve worked for.”

Henderson said he’d tried to change Wilson’s mind.

“He’ll be missed,” Henderson said. “I hate to see him go, andI’ve tried to talk him into staying. Nobody understands why he hadto do it, but it’s something he has to do.”

And Wilson knows what he’ll be doing once his days are no longerfilled with the sound of dispatchers and sirens, and when he’s nolonger wearing a gun belt and badge.

“I’ve got plans. I’m going to work in my shop and do somefurniture and cabinet-making,” he said. “I’m also going to spend alittle more time with my family.”

Henderson said he’s glad Wilson has something to look forwardto.

“But I still don’t like it that he’s leaving,” he said with asmile.