SHERMAN, Texas (KTEN) — Grayson County Sheriff Tom Watt will soon be hanging up his badge.

"It is a bittersweet experience, I'm not ready to run out the door."

Watt said he's decided to close out his law enforcement career after 43 years of service to the county.

Watt was elected as sheriff in 2016, after previously serving as Sherman police chief from 2004 to 2013.

"It didn't take long to figure out the key to being a success in this office, a big part of that is the relationships that are really a must."

Before his retirement, Watt hopes to put the final touches on expansion of the county jail. 

"We were able to accomplish a lot working with the commissioners court of course because without them we would not have been able to upgrade the jail like we have. We would not have been able to update some of the equipment that we have and certainly we would not have been able to move forward with this jail expansion."

He said his Grayson County colleagues have had a tremendous impact on him.

"The people that I've had an opportunity to work with, they are just the finest people that you could possibly imagine... it's been the highlight of my career."

For colleague and friend, Captain Marty Hall, Watt's future departure weighs heavy. 

"I basically spent the last seven years with Sheriff Watt, and it's been absolutely amazing. I've gotten to do a lot of really cool things like watch the agency grow into what we knew it could be," Hall said.

Watt will leave his position when his elected term ends in 2024, saying he'll focus on family time after that.

"I think my wife has earned the right for me to be around the house a little more and take care of some things," he said.