KENNEBUNKPORT – The retiring police chief in this seaside town made famous by two presidents made it plain that he will not miss the White House press corps.

Chief Robert Sullivan said he would prefer to deal with anti-war demonstrators than with the national reporters who covered former President George Bush and then his son, current President George W. Bush.

Sullivan, 54, is retiring after 30 years as a local police officer – including the last 10 as chief.

“I would say the two most challenging things were the national press and the demonstrators,” Sullivan said. “They both have an absolute right to do their job. But with the demonstrators, at least you can talk to them.”

Sullivan said members of the White House press corps were the most impossible to deal with.

Sullivan, who joined the Kennebunkport force after a three-year assignment as a military police officer, told Town Manager Nathan Poore on Monday that it’s time to do something else. His resignation takes effect Feb. 1, but he’s taking some accrued vacation until then.

“We’ll miss Bob,” Poore said. “He served the town well and the community is going to miss him.”

Poore named Lt. Joseph Bruni acting chief while town officials decide whether to advertise the job.

Sullivan was the No. 2 ranking officer in the department during George Herbert Walker Bush’s vice presidential years. He became chief in the last year of Bush’s presidency.

Bush’s family has owned a home on Walker’s Point since the turn of the century, and as president Bush vacationed here often.

Besides the press and protesters, police had to deal with massive traffic jams as cars and tourist buses flocked to Bush’s house. Police had to close some streets when the president was in town, upsetting some residents.