CHARLESTON, S.C. - Reuben Greenberg, Charleston's first black police chief who brought national attention with his innovative police methods, announced his retirement Tuesday citing health and four decades in law enforcement.

Greenberg, 62, chief since 1982, has high blood pressure but "fortunately the old ticker keeps going," he said, patting his chest during a news conference in the stifling heat in front of a city building bearing his name.

"I don't probably eat the way I should" and certainly not the way his doctor tells him to eat, he said. Asked if there was any other reason for retiring now, the chief replied, "old age. Forty years in this business - come on."

"His honesty was complete, perfect and pure," Mayor Joseph P. Riley Jr. said. "He was always on duty and he always had a ready smile."

Earlier this month, Riley asked Greenberg to take time off and get a physical after a woman called 911 when she saw Greenberg's pickup truck driving erratically.

The truck stopped in the road and flashed its blue lights, according to an incident report. The chief got out, approached the woman's car and later told her not to call police and struck the driver's door with his fist, authorities said.

A letter from Greenberg's physician recommended the chief retire for medical reasons. Greenberg then wrote Riley that he was retiring as of last Friday.

"Those of you who have seen me the last 24 years know I don't slow down much," Greenberg said. "I enjoyed working in law enforcement. It's a decision I made 40 years ago and I'm glad I made the decision."

Greenberg will serve as chief emeritus, consulting on law enforcement matters. He also plans to relax splitting time between homes in Charleston and in North Carolina.

Riley noted Greenberg was the city's first black police chief.

"As the first, he had special pressure and he knew he had special opportunity," Riley said. "He opened eyes once blinded by racial bigotry and destroyed myths and stereotypes."

Greenberg became prominent nationwide for his crime-fighting efforts. His 1989 book, "Let's Take Back Our Streets," outlined a philosophy of putting police where the crime is whether in a housing project, a street corner or near a crack house.

Named Justice Professional of the Year in 1991 by the Southern Criminal Justice Foundation, Greenberg worked to win the trust of inner-city residents who had lost faith in law enforcement.

When Greenberg became chief, Riley said, "the reality and fear of crime in Charleston was almost paralytic. He said he would take back the streets and he did."

Riley said Charleston's population increased 64 percent during the time Greenberg was chief while crime decreased 11 percent.

Greenberg credited his police officers. "One man doesn't make a police department," he said.

Riley said Greenberg raised education standards in the department, now with 367 officers and largest in the state.

Greenberg used foot, bike and harbor patrols and established a computer crime unit, among others techniques. When Hurricane Hugo hit in 1989, the chief went out in the eye of the storm with other officers to prevent looting, Riley said.

But, in addition the 911 incident, there have been several others involving Greenberg in recent years. He once called anti-war protester "a crazy fat lady" and apologized after using profane remarks about black-on-black crime last year.

However his national reputation brought invitations to lecture, job opportunities from cities including Washington and Mobile, Ala., an appearance on "60 Minutes" and a State Department invitation to teach police in Hungary after the Iron Curtain came down.

"The Charleston story, the Reuben Greenberg story of law enforcement, has touched essentially every community in our country," Riley said.