Harvard retires from department, plans to stay in Atlanta

ATLANTA - Former Atlanta Police Chief Beverly Harvard is retiring from the department but says she plans to stay in Atlanta. <br> <br> Harvard said yesterday her current plans call for spending time with her family. She says she has employment options but would NOT discuss them. <br> <br> Her comments came as the Atlanta City Council gave Harvard several proclamations and plaques to recognize her 29 years on the police force and her eight as police chief. <br> <br> Former Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell appointed her to the job and in many ways defined her role. Some said he seemed to serve as de facto chief. By the time he was on his way out of office, the police department was mired in morale problems. Many blamed Harvard. <br> <br> Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin chose the former police chief in New Orleans, Richard Pennington to replace Harvard. <br> <br> Harvard says she has no regrets about her decision to become a police officer on November eleventh, 1973.