Wells Police Chief Jo-Ann Putnam retired Monday, closing out 41 years of service to her community.

This week, as she reflected on her time on the force, she said retiring is bittersweet but that it’s time to rest.

“It’s time to relax and enjoy while I’m still healthy,” she said. “At some point, you gotta let it go to someone that can continue the work and keep the support of the community and do a great job for the community — as I hope people think I did.”

Putnam, who grew up in Wells, started to work for the town as a dispatcher in 1985.

In 2008, she was named chief; at the time, she said she was one of only about four female police chiefs. She said that despite the challenges that come with being a woman in a male-dominated field, all of her fellow chiefs have been supportive.

Starting as a woman in law enforcement in a time where there were so few was challenging, Putnam said, but many of her male colleagues were like big brothers to her, looking out for her and supporting her.

She recounted how she once jumped in to help a fellow officer who was wrestling a suspect to the ground. Although her fellow officers had been supportive up to that point, that was the moment she felt they really got to see just how capable she was.

Putnam said a lot of people have come and gone throughout her time, but one of her favorite parts of the job was seeing the people around her succeed and grow on whatever path they went down.

She recalled her work with trainees during a summer officer program and said watching those new law enforcement officers flourish was one of the most rewarding experiences in her career.

Toward the end of her tenure, the department came under fire for becoming the first in Maine to reach an agreement to collaborate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

That deal prompted pushback from many residents, and the department ended the agreement in October.

Putnam cited the safety of the community and the politicization of policing as reasons for the withdrawal.

In a Facebook post Monday, the department honored Putnam’s time as chief and her work in the community.

“Chief Putnam has left a lasting impact on every officer she has lead and every member of our community she has served,” the post reads. “Today’s officers are fortunate to carry forward the lessons, values, and dedication that Chief Putnam gave to our community.”

Putnam’s successor has not been named. Town Manager Michael Pardue is acting as interim department head.

Pardue said Wednesday that he expects the hiring process for a permanent successor to begin later this month.

Putnam said she’s excited to see where retirement takes her, whether it be some simple rest and relaxation or traveling with friends, but that she’ll never be too far away.

“I’ll still be around,” she said. “The townspeople know they can always contact me. I’m here for them.”