Jim Denney still likes “chasing electrons” but he’s tired of the management duties that come with overseeing the Douglas County Emergency Communications Department.

On Oct. 3 Denney, 60, will retire after 11 years at the helm of a department that takes 911 calls and handles all police, sheriff, fire and ambulance radio dispatches.

“I’m ready to take life easier than I have and spend some time with my wife and enjoy my hobbies,” he said.

Denney, however, will continue to work part time for the county overseeing the development and integration of future radio systems, much of it mandated by the federal government.

“Radio has always been a love of mine,” Denney said. “I’m still going to be chasing wire and electrons.”

Denney will be replaced by assistant director Selma Southard, whose career covers more than 30 years assisting first responders and 911 callers. She started out as communications officer with the Lawrence Police Department in 1975 and went on to become a training officer in the early 1980s. She became supervisor of dispatchers in 1995 when the county consolidated its emergency dispatching operations. She became assistant director in 2004.

County Administrator Craig Weinaug said he promoted Southard to director following consultations with police, sheriff and fire officials.

Denney joined the Kansas University Department of Public Safety in 1974 and became its director in 1978. He left to work for the county as communications director in 1997. He also served eight years in the U.S. Air Force.

Denney oversaw the development of a dispatch center at KU and then at the county. Under his leadership, the county moved from using 1970s radio technology to a more modern system. Before consolidation each emergency-response entity had its own radios and dispatchers.

“Lawrence and Douglas County should be reminded how lucky and how unusual it is to have all these agencies work together,” he said. “It’s an attitude that is really rare.”

Weinaug commended Denney for his work.

“Jim was the right person to see the department through some major transitions, he said.