INDIANOLA, Iowa — After 31 years with the Indianola Police Department, Chief Brian Sher is retiring, and the community will celebrate him on Friday.

Sher is an Illinois native, originally from a Chicago suburb. He fell in love with the Hawkeye State when he started college at the University of Iowa. After graduating, he started his professional career at the Indianola Police Department in 1994 and has stayed there ever since.

“I wouldn’t do anything different,” he said. “I’d do it all over again.”

When Sher started at the department, his coworkers gave him the nickname “High Chair” because he’s 5’4″.

All but one of his coworkers from 1994 have retired or moved on. Officer Chris Marsh started at the Indianola Police Department before Sher and is still with the department.

“We started as kids on the night shift and now he’s on the day shift and I’m going to say goodbye to him,” Sher said.

Sher said the most memorable moments were those spent with his coworkers.

After retiring on Friday, he will take a week off and then get right back to work. Sher accepted another job in Indianola, but hasn’t announced where he is headed yet.

Outside of work, Sher has four kids ranging in age from 10 to 27. He said he’s most excited to be with his wife and kids in retirement.

“People don’t realize that you miss a lot of things. A lot of Halloweens, and birthdays, and Christmases, and all of the things that the Monday through Friday eight to four people get to experience,” he said. “I am hoping not to miss another soccer practice, or wedding, or grandkid when they start coming. That’s what I’m looking forward to most.”

All 16,000 Indianola residents are invited to celebrate Chief Sher at the Indianola Activity Center on Friday from 3:30-5 p.m.

As for what’s next for the department, the City of Indianola is conducting a nationwide search for its next police chief.