Sheriff Raleigh H. Isaacs Sr. will retire effective Jan. 1 after 23 years in the position.

Isaacs said Thursday that he decided upon retiring about a year ago after conversations with his wife.

“We decided it was time to let the younger generation come in and take over,” said Isaacs, who has had a 55-year career in law enforcement.

Isaacs, a Suffolk native, started in law enforcement with the Norfolk Police Department, where he served nine years. He then served a combined 23 years in the Nansemond County and Suffolk police departments and then 23 years as sheriff.

“It’s been a real pleasure for us to serve the city of Suffolk,” Isaacs said. “We’ve had an opportunity to meet a lot of nice people and get to know them personally.”

Isaacs’ current term would have been up next year.

By law, Maj. E.C. Harris automatically becomes the sheriff upon Isaacs’ retirement. The seat is up for election next year, and Harris would have to run to continue in the job after the remaining year of Isaacs’ term is up.

“He’ll do a great job,” Isaacs said.

Harris also has a long career in law enforcement. He started with a three-year tour as a military policeman, then served with the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel Police. He joined the Suffolk Police Department in 1986 and then worked as an investigator in the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office before joining the sheriff’s department in July 2014.