Since this letter was directed at me and is generating some comments I figured I would post it here.
For starters, I never called Kaiser anything but an honorable man and I do think he was a pretty good chief.


Pulse of The People: Former Police Chief Nick Kaiser: I retired

KAISER

Dear Mr. Franco:

On more than a few occasions I have read in your “Tailspin” column the phrase “abruptly resigned” in referring to my retirement from the Troy Police Department in 2010. While I am fully aware of the latitude that opinion pieces give you as a city editor, in the interest of fair and responsible journalism you should be careful in stating rumors as fact. You might also question your source or sources.

These are the facts:

In the year 2007 my wife and I bought property in Florida in preparation for my retirement after 35 years of service. The plan was that I would retire in 2010 when I reached the age of 62 and was eligible for Social Security benefits. My retirement would give us more time to spend in Florida during the winter months. My family and close personal friends were fully aware of this although I wished it to remain personal at that time.

Fast forward to 2010 and at the age of 62, after accessing our financial situation in conference with the New York state retirement personnel, I decided to retire as of March of that year. As you can imagine, retiring from a profession that you have been a part of and loved for 35 years is not an easy decision; it was very difficult. But my decision was made and one month prior to my retirement date I announced to the mayor that I would be retiring. I did so, plain and simple.

I want to stress that this was a planned retirement with no outside influences, no coercion, no pressure, and it was certainly not a resignation. It was a retirement. As you can see, it was also not “abrupt.” It was planned and well-thought out.

These are the facts and not the rumors you have heard. I suspect that someone with a negative agenda has provided you with false information and, hopefully, these facts will help end these rumors. When I read your first reference to “abruptly resigned.” I ignored it hoping that it was just go away. However, you have continued to print this inaccurate and misleading phrase and I wanted you to have the facts.

Thank you for your consideration of this matter.

Nicholas F. Kaiser

Former Troy police chief