<p>One police chief turned in his badge, and another was sworn in Friday.</p><p>Greenwood’s former police chief John Laut officially retired Friday after more than three decades with the Greenwood Police Department. In a ceremony held at the Greenwood Amphitheater, Laut received a proclamation from the city recognizing his retirement. He turned in his badge and gave one last call over the police radio to signify the end of his watch.</p><p>Laut started his career with the Greenwood Police Department in 1988. He was just 26 years old at the time, and his friend Mark Myers, now Greenwood’s mayor and the chief’s boss, convinced him to apply there. He stayed put, climbing the ranks over the years, rising from detective to sergeant, before Myers appointed him chief of police in 2012.</p><p>Myers delivered an emotional speech Friday about his friendship with Laut, who he’s been close with for years. Before they both were at the Greenwood Police Department, Laut was Myers’s supervisor 30 years ago when they worked security at Lazurus department store in Indianapolis, or "LAPD," as Myers called it.</p>[sc:text-divider text-divider-title="Story continues below gallery" ]Click here to purchase photos from this gallery<p>"I convinced him it was time to hang up LAPD and come to a real place to work, and John came in. We’ve been very, very, very close friends ever since," Myers said. "John and Molly, and their family. My family. We’re all family."</p><p>That same day, the new police chief, James Ison was sworn in. Laut is Ison’s mentor, he said, and he is honored to step into this role after him.</p><p>"I’m very excited. It’s bittersweet, sitting in what is now my office, but Chief Laut’s office this morning, talking about the day like we always had in the past," Ison said. "It’s bittersweet knowing that I’m going to be at the helm, but also he’s not going to be there."</p><p>Ison studied criminal justice at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, and served on the police department there. He was hired in 2001 as a patrol officer for the Greenwood Police Department. Over the years, he advanced through the department, until he was promoted to deputy chief in 2015. Ison also serves on the seven-member Johnson County Council.</p><p>A retirement party followed both ceremonies, with Daylight Donuts, punch and a poster-board decorated with old and new photos of Laut.</p><p>Laut is happy to be retired, and he knows he left the department in good hands, he said.</p><p>"It’s been a blessing to do it for eight years, but it’s time. It’s time for new guys, it’s time for new leadership," Laut said.</p><p>His wife, Molly Laut, said their family is very excited to spend more time together, and they are celebrating by going campus this weekend.</p><p>John and Molly Laut have four children, and their daughter Elizabeth is currently a patrol officer at the Greenwood Police Department. </p><p>"He’s done a great service, and left on top. We’re excited for more family time, and a little less stress," Molly Laut said. </p>
