VIDALIA — In front of a crowd of his deputies, prison staff, work release members and his wife, Concordia Parish Sheriff Randy Maxwell announced Tuesday his plans to retire at the end of his current term of office in 2012.

“I am just not physically able to continue to perform my duties,” Maxwell said. “I have had two major back surgeries in the past few years, and I just can’t go door-to-door anymore like I used too.”

Maxwell said if he can’t give the people of Concordia Parish 100 percent, he doesn’t want to serve as the sheriff.

“Politically, I am probably stronger than I ever have been,” he said. “But (residents) deserve to see me out and about, and I can’t physically get out there and go. This is just the right thing to do.”

The sheriff also cited a desire to spend more time with his family as a reason for his decision.

Maxwell said he enjoyed his 20-plus years serving as sheriff, and he couldn’t have asked for a better group of employees to serve under him.

“I truly appreciate the work you have done and your friendship,” he said. “I’ve really been blessed by the Lord. He gave me a good wife and family and good people to work with.”

Maxwell said the decision was tough, but he was glad to leave the sheriff’s office in good financial shape, with all equipment, facilities and projects paid for, money in the bank and a history of clean audits.

He said he was also happy to see that the CPSO provides 250 jobs to parish residents.

With June 2012 less than one year away, Maxwell said he’ll be dreaming now of spending his retirement hunting, fishing and traveling.

“I have been wearing a badge for 44 years. That is a long time,” he said. “I just want to take some time to relax and enjoy myself.”

Maxwell served as a Louisiana State Police Trooper for 19 years before he took office in Concordia in 1990.

During his term, the CPSO constructed two prisons at no cost to the taxpayers, started numerous inmate rehabilitation programs and implemented the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program, a CPSO press release said.