John Turcmanovich, chief of police in Lansford for the past six years and a police officer in the borough for 41 years, is retiring.

He informed Lansford Borough Council in a resignation letter that his retirement date is May 1.During the meeting of the borough council Wednesday, the council accepted the letter of resignation.However, council did not accept a request that he retire with a disability retirement pension. This matter was later discussed in an executive session.Turcmanovich has been on sick leave from the police department since February.Mayor James Romankow said the officer in charge of the department is Sgt. Jack Soberick.Soberick has been the officer in charge since Turcmanovich's illness and will continue in that capacity.