Bow Police Chief Jeff Jaran is leaving his position after four years in town, accepting a position in Provincetown, Mass.

“There are a number of personal reasons that play a part in it, but ultimately it was a job on Cape Cod that I really didn’t think I had a shot at,” said Jaran. “I was pleasantly surprised. I have accepted it, and it’s not without sorrow that I’m leaving an agency that I poured my heart and soul into.”

Jaran said he and his family often traveled to Cape Cod while he was growing up, and he looks forward to returning.

“I grew up in Massachusetts and vacationed all up and down the Cape,” he said. “There are only 15 chiefs on the Cape, so they don’t become available very often. At this stage in my life, I didn’t think I could turn it down.”

Town Manager Jim Pitts said he expects the process of finding a new chief to take one to two months, and there is a possibility Lt. Dave Girard could be named interim chief while the search is conducted.

In the absence of a chief, Girard is automatically named officer in charge.

As second-in-command, Girard also assisted in oversaw the Police Department while Jaran attended the FBI Academy in Quantico, Va., from October to December 2007. At that time, Jaran was in constant contact with Girard, said Pitts.

“Jaran continued to be of service to the town as chief of the Bow Police Department and stayed in constant touch with Girard by phone and e-mail,” said Pitts.

Jaran was paid a salary and benefits while attending the academy, Pitts said, and as part of the agreement with the town, Jaran had to serve an additional 24 months as chief of Bow.

In leaving Bow just five months after graduating the academy, Jaran will repay a prorated portion of his time in Virginia, Pitts said.

The town incurred a cost of $3,691 to send Jaran to the academy, including travel, lodging, uniforms and fees, Pitt said. Prorating that amount by five months, Jaran will repay the town $2,922.

“He has agreed to pay that in cash on his last day of service here,” said Pitts, adding that when Jaran first came to Bow, he accepted a lower salary in exchange for possibly being accepted into the FBI academy. Pitts said he is sorry to see Jaran leave Bow.

“I was quite disappointed, of course, because he’s been an excellent chief and brought the department a long way, and was looking forward to more of the same,” said Pitts. “At the same time, he was offered a financial package that would be hard for anybody to refuse.”

Pitts said he will put an advertisement for the position out next week. Jaran’s position paid $73,100, according to the town’s pay scale.

Jaran will be paid an annual salary of $100,000 in Provincetown. The biggest challenges he will face in his new role is dealing with a large tourist population, the diverse culture and a drug problem in the town, he said.

Jaran told his co-workers of his decision at a departmentwide meeting so they would hear the news from him first.

“For me, it’s always been all about relationships. I have many friends not only in the Police Department, but in the community. I’m leaving behind a topnotch group,” Jaran said. “I can say in good conscience I am leaving it a lot better off than when I arrived. That’s from personnel to upgrading the facility, equipment and technology.”

Pitts said one of Jaran’s biggest achievements during his four years in Bow was forming a working relationship between the emergency services in town.

“What I’ll miss most is that he was a team player and he established a great relationship between the police and fire departments down to the lowest level. That goes back to his leadership,” said Pitts. “There’s a teamwork between the two departments that is, unfortunately, rare. We don’t have any animosity and I credit both chiefs.”

While looking for Jaran’s replacement, Pitts said he will form a board to interview the potential candidates, who he hopes will meet his specific criteria.

“We need a spirit of team play. Someone who recognizes it’s not the only department in town and, above all, a leader who can motivate the people in the department and influence them to work to their maximum performance level,” said Pitts.