Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Director Mark Gwyn stepping down

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation's top leader is stepping down, government authorities said Thursday.

TBI Director Mark Gwyn reportedly plans to retire from the state agency in June, after more than 14 years at the helm.

Gwyn made the announcement to employees in a Thursday morning memo.

"I have prayed and thought about this decision for some time now and I believe this is the right time for me and for the Bureau," Gwyn wrote.

"I believe I have done all that I can do to improve our resources, training and equipment for the Bureau family," he added. "It was my goal to leave the Bureau better than it was when it was given to me."

Gwyn was first appointed to lead the agency in 2004. Haslam reappointed Gwyn for his third six-year term in July 2016, after a national search.

Gwyn's decision to cut that term short comes less than a month after a state review found the TBI routinely dipped into its cash reserves to make ends meet for four years, leaving those reserves "greatly diminished."

The strategy allowed the agency to sidestep mandatory budget cuts that would have led to layoffs or diminished services. But it depleted funds that essentially served as the agency's savings accounts.

TBI leaders said they didn't ask for extra funding in budget requests because they "did not expect such requests would be approved through the Governor’s budget process."

State lawmakers grilled Gwyn about the budget shortfalls during a Jan. 16 hearing.

► More: TBI overspent its budget for 4 years, using savings to make ends meet, report says

Gwyn told lawmakers he would use the report to "make a stronger TBI."

"I'm going to take every recommendation that the comptroller made to heart," Gwyn said. "I feel I have an obligation not only to you but to the citizens of the state to say what the needs are."

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Reach Natalie Alund at nalund@tennessean.com and follow her on Twitter @nataliealund.