Nov 1, 2009 8:10 pm US/Pacific
William Bratton Hands Over LAPD Badge, Looks Ahead
LOS ANGELES (CBS) ―
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Former LAPD Chief William Bratton gave NewsCentral an exclusive interview on what lies ahead for this "top cop."
CBS
William Bratton has finished his last day on the job as Los Angeles police chief, handing over the key to his former office to interim chief Michael P. Downing.
Bratton walked out of the Police Administrative Building Saturday without speaking to reporters but later gave NewsCentral an exclusive interview on what lies ahead.
"I'm feeling great," Bratton said.
Bratton's wife Rikki Klieman said it's been an emotional month.
"I think, for Bill, he's very complete," said Klieman, a lawyer, TV anchor and actress.
"He knows that he had certain goals when he came here and that he's accomplished them one by one, and he knows that he's done."
After seven years as the city's top cop, Bratton is taking a job as chief executive officer at Altegrity Security Consulting, a private security firm based in Virginia.
He said he's expected to report to his new job on Monday.
"As they say, 'There's no rest for the weary,'" Bratton said with a laugh.
He's moving to the East Coast so Klieman can be closer to her work. The two formed a romance in their 50s and maintained a bi-coastal relationship despite their very demanding careers.
Bratton formally turned in his badge Wednesday at a ceremony at the new police headquarters.
Downing, head of the police department's Counter-Terrorism and Criminal Intelligence Bureau, will serve as chief until the city council confirms a new leader in a few weeks.
Bratton would not offer any clues as to who he'd prefer to replace him.
But he did say that he's looking forward to the "next amazing adventure."
"Most people would say at your age why don't you retire. There's no choice of retiring -- I'd die of boredom. It's fortunate that opportunities keep presenting themselves."
(© 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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