The Apple Valley City Council will begin the process on Thursday to find a replacement for Police Chief Scott Johnson, who announced his retirement last week.

Johnson, leader of the city’s police department since 2001, will leave his post Dec. 9.

An interim leader for the police force has yet to be determined.

“He’s talked about this for a long time, so we weren't surprised," Johnson's administrative assistant, Pequita Jordan, said. "He’s had his retirement papers filled out for about six months.”

The next part of Johnson’s life includes the soon-to-be former chief splitting time between his vacation home up north and with his family in Arizona, Jordan said.

Late last year, Johnson told Apple Valley Patch that if he were to make a New Year’s resolution for 2011, it would be to spend more time with his granddaughter in Arizona.

Before becoming Apple Valley’s chief, Johnson served in the Lakeville Police Department, which has become known as an incubator for law enforcement leadership. Among the former members of Lakeville’s police force are Dakota County Sheriff  Dave Bellows, Lakeville Police Chief Tom Vonhof and former Dakota County Sheriff Don Gudmundson.

On Thursday, the City Council might decide who would serve as interim police chief until Johnson’s permanent replacement is hired, Jordan said.

A 20-minute discussion on the process to fill the police chief vacancy is listed on the agenda for the council’s informal discussion session, set to begin at 6 p.m. at City Hall.

Neither Johnson nor City Administrator Tom Lawell was available for comment on this story Monday afternoon.