University Police Department Chief Kevin Hay announced Friday that he will retire in two weeks.

Hay, who has overseen GW’s police force since 2010, will leave the department Nov. 14, according to a release. Assistant Chief Frank Demes will serve as acting chief until the University chooses a replacement.

“After 31 years in law enforcement, I have decided to retire from police work and spend some time with my family in North Carolina, back where I started my career,” Hay said in the release.

His retirement comes about a month before accreditors plan to visit campus and review the department’s procedures, training programs and interactions with the public.

The head of the accrediting body said earlier this month that three discrimination complaints recently brought against UPD, if they reflect a larger problem, could impact the department’s accreditation. The force will know if it has earned the accrediting agency’s stamp of approval by early spring.

Since 2010, at least five GW police officers have filed complaints against the department for gender, race or age discrimination. The three most recent complaints have come in the last about seven months.

Before Hay arrived on campus to serve as UPD chief, he worked for the U.S. Park Police for 26 years.

He has led GW’s police department of over 100 sworn officers, who serve the Foggy Bottom, Mount Vernon and Virginia Science and Technology campuses. Between his UPD and Park Police careers, he has received more than 100 honors for his police work.

Senior Associate Vice President for Safety and Security Darrell Darnell thanked the police chief for his “years of service to the University” in the release, and said the search for Hay’s replacement will begin immediately.