Unalaska, AK – The Unalaska Public Safety Department is losing a 19-year veteran to its police force this month. Sgt. Matt Betzen has accepted the job as chief of police for the city of Vermillion in South Dakota and is relocating there next month. Vermillion is home to the University of South Dakota and has a population of about 10,000 people.

"Obviously South Dakota's totally different," Betzen says. "In a lot of ways it's very much the types of thing about what I like here. The people wave to each other when they drive down the road."

As a long serving police officer in Unalaska, Betzen says he's seen the community change. He says he appreciates the relationships he and others have built over the years with community members willing to reach out when they need help.

"I know I get calls at home and Facebook inquiries," he said. "We hope to be a resource for the community."

The 45-year-old officer grew up in New Mexico, and after being discharged from the Marines began his career in Washington state when a friend remarked he'd make a good cop.

"As corny as it sounds I like helping people," he says about his motivation for working in law enforcement. "I love what I do; I love being the person they call for help when everything's going haywire."

Betzen retires at the end of the month. He begins his first day as chief of police in Vermillion on July15.