Former senior constable Richard Whitmore has worked as the sole-charge constable in Clinton for the past three years.
He donned the blue suit for the last time on Tuesday last week.
Mr Whitmore said he was proud to have been a police officer and served the Clinton community.
"I leave the police with a great sense of pride and am looking forward to the challenge of my new venture."
Mr Whitmore will continue as the business owner of a rural delivery service.
He looked forward to continuing to work in the community in a job with more stable working hours, which would give him an "improved work-life balance".
His wife, Senior Constable Jane Whitmore, will continue in her role in Balclutha.
Mr Whitmore said he also hoped to catch up with "old workmates from time to time".
His career had been "interesting and rewarding".
"It’s a bit difficult after 31 years to say if there’s anything you going to miss. When you’ve done a job for so long it becomes a part of who you are," Mr Whitmore said.
After a placement in Lower Hutt after recruitment he shifted to Gore in 1992, where he qualified as a detective.
In 2000, he transferred to Balclutha as a detective sergeant. He was promoted to senior sergeant in 2007.
He was area response manager for about five months in 2013 before taking on the senior constable role in Clinton.
"That’s where I’ve been for three and a-half years."
He could not speak highly enough of the support he received from volunteers in Clinton, who worked alongside the police when called to serious and critical incidents.
