Police Chief Bratton Bids Farewell

Los Angeles (myFOXla.com) - Police Chief William Bratton turned in his badge on Wednesday after a touching farewell ceremony outside the new headquarters of the Los Angeles Police Department.

Bratton became emotional as he came out of the building and saw hundreds of uniformed officers and civilian personnel standing in formation along the path to First Street where his car was waiting.

"Thank you. Those two words say it all. I've had seven of the most exciting and satisfying years of my professional life here with you, and together we have done so much," Bratton said. "Together we have had the opportunity to take this department to new levels, and I hope that you feel as I do that it was time well spent."

"Thank you for this," Bratton said as he surveyed the blue line of well-wishers. "This is... you know I'm never at a loss for words but ..." and he could not continue.

As part of tradition, a dispatcher put out an "end-of-watch" broadcast -- an announcement of someone's retirement from the force.

The dispatcher praised Bratton for his accomplishments, but also made fun of his Boston accent -- "Los Angeles Police Depahtment" -- his penchant for statistics and his "rock star status."

Bratton then clutched the hand of his executive secretary, who seemed near tears, and walked down to his car, thanking the men and women of the LAPD along his path.

When he got to his car, an officer asked him to turn over his badge. An LAPD helicopter then did a flyover in front of police headquarters.

Earlier Wednesday, after Bratton was honored by the City Council, he said "in government, what are we all about? It is the idea of having a career of significance, a career of impact."

He touted the fact that during his seven years at the LAPD, homicides dropped 58 percent; overall violent crime dropped 53 percent; overall crime dropped by about 30 percent; and gang homicides dropped 59 percent.

Bratton will be in Boston for an undisclosed number of days, then return to LAPD headquarters on Saturday to turn over the keys of his office to Deputy Chief Michael Downing, whom the Police Commission has appointed to serve as temporary chief until the City Council confirms Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's nominee as the next chief.

On Sunday, Bratton will fly to New York City to join a private security firm, Altegrity. He said his first task will be to help the company bid successfully on federal contracts to do criminal justice work in many of the emerging democracies around the world that the State Department is seeking to assist.