UPDATE 2/6/12
PORTSMOUTH, Ohio (WSAZ) -- Portsmouth Ohio Police Chief Charles Horner will retire from the force later this month.

The long-time chief has been on leave since November.

In a letter to Mayor David Malone, Horner said that he will retire on February 17 and plans to concentrate on his campaign for Scioto County Sheriff.

Malone says Captain Robert Ware will be appointed acting chief until a permanent replacement is hired.

Earlier this month, Chief Charles Horner announced he was retiring at the end of November. He was doing so to run for Scioto County Sheriff in 2012.

Horner now tells WSAZ.com he plans to stay on as Chief until the end of February, and when he files for Sheriff he will do so as an Independent candidate.

He says the deadline to file as an Independent is March 5, the day before the primary election. If he were to file as a Democrat, the deadline is December 7.

Horner has been Chief for nearly 10 years and has been in law enforcement for 28 years.

On Friday, Chief Charles Horner told Mayor David Malone he plans to retire by the end of the month.

Horner says his plan now is to run for Scioto County Sheriff in 2012.

Chief Horner tells WSAZ.com, that he wants to ramp up the great strides the city and county have made in fighting the pain pill problem. He also says he is frustrated with the “continuing challenges of an understaffed police department headquartered in an unsafe, outdated environment.“

As for the next police chief, Mayor Malone says he will advertise the job and go through the standard civil service hiring procedures.

Horner has been Chief for nearly 10 years and has been in law enforcement for 28 years.

Horner will face competition from the current Sheriff in 2012.

Marty Donini announced last week that he plans to run again. The announcement was made at the same time Donini announced he was retiring as Sheriff at the end of October, but was being appointed interim Sheriff until next year’s election.

He said all this this was done to save taxpayers money.