Chief Deputy Al Morin of the Kennebec County Sheriff’s Office will retire effective Jan. 1 after more than four decades in law enforcement. Morin, left, is pictured in this 2018 photo with Sheriff Ken Mason, right, and Lt. Chris Read, center, who will be Morin’s replacement as chief deputy. Courtesy of Kennebec County Sheriff’s Office

AUGUSTA — After four decades in law enforcement, Chief Deputy Al Morin of the Kennebec County Sheriff’s Office will retire in January. Lt. Chris Read will take his place.

Sheriff Ken Mason shared the news in a Facebook post Thursday morning. He said Morin served the public honorably during his time at the sheriff’s office.

Morin will retire Jan. 1, 2025. The following day, Mason plans to appoint Read as chief deputy.

“He’s just had a long career, over four decades long, which is really two careers (in law enforcement),” Mason said about Morin. “He’s been good to work with and he helped firm this agency up to what it is now, an amazing service for Kennebec County.”

Mason said he chose Read as the new chief deputy because of how well they work together.

Read started at the sheriff’s office in 2018 after he retired from the Augusta Police Department.

“He’s a professional and I enjoy working with him,” Mason said. “He has done good things and gets along with everyone. I have faith in him and there will be no bumps in the transition because he is already here and knows how to work with me.”

Mason, 62, was reelected Tuesday to serve another four-year term as sheriff.

“I’m in my 38th year and I’m looking forward to it,” Mason said. “We have things squared away where I can take a vacation and not worry about operations.”