“You can tell when it’s time and it’s time for me,” he said of his decision to retire as he is set to mark 35 years of service that saw him start as a cadet before becoming a patrol officer and rising through the ranks to become top cop in October 2003.

Chief Mullan, who turned 55 on Sunday, acknowledged he’s faced his share of “challenges” during his watch, including a foul-up that allowed since-convicted killer Corey Rogers to remain on the loose despite an offer to surrender for another violent crime before he murdered two Hamilton teens.

While he also inherited the controversy over the wrongful arrest of Michael Dixon, a black man who spent three nights in jail for a jewelry store robbery he didn’t commit, his own actions came under a cloud in the handling of high-profile internal disciplinary charges.

In the latter case, a tribunal tossed out 24 Police Services Act charges against Sergeant Kevin Dhinsa, accused of sexually harassing 12 women colleagues, after finding they were filed eight days past a statutory deadline.

“If I had the ability to turn back the time, I certainly would have done that to prevent them from occurring,” Chief Mullan said. “As a result of those challenges, we have learned from them and we have become a much better police service as a result of them. We’ve made changes to policies and procedures and processes here to ensure we don’t face those same challenges in the future.”

He said despite lower-court refusals to reopen the case, he still believes the tribunal made the wrong ruling on Sgt. Dhinsa, who has been on paid leave for three and a half years.

“I can say that we were always acting in good faith in regards to the laying of charges against Sgt. Dhinsa,” he said. “I think that foremost in my mind and everybody’s mind was a hearing that would allow all the facts to be revealed and where accountability was to follow.”

Asked about his accomplishments, Chief Mullan said he helped shepherd several innovations, including an emphasis on intelligence-based policing, which tracks repeat offenders, and the introduction of surveillance cameras in the downtown core. He also oversaw a gun amnesty that brought in 1,200 firearms and took aggressive action on grow-op homes and crack houses that led to the forfeiture of the Sandbar tavern and an east Mountain home under civil remedies legislation.

Police services board chair Bernie Morelli said Chief Mullan can take credit for a major role in increasing officer ranks and targeting drug-related crime.

“Certainly, he’s been one of the most accessible chiefs,” he said. “He’s performed at a high level and (is) obviously leaving this community in better shape today than it was before he arrived. He’s made a major contribution.”

The police board has hired a consultant to help it find a new chief and will accept internal and external applications.

As for post-retirement plans, Chief Mullan said although he loves to golf, he is leaning toward finding a new vocation, likely in the field of justice.

”I’m looking for a job that is as rewarding and as fulfilling as this job has been. I’ve said it many, many times: this is the best job I’ve ever had,” he said.

“I’m kind of going slow in regards to my future and I’m going to see where the opportunities lie.”