ORLANDO, Fla. — Action 9 consumer investigator reporter Todd Ulrich retired Saturday from WFTV Channel 9 after spending 38 years at the station.

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“From that first year until now, I’ve been proud to be part of a News Department with a solid journalism tradition and community commitment,” he said in a Facebook post. “It’s so very hard to leave, but it’s time.”

Ulrich, who joined Channel 9 in 1984, said he valued improving viewers’ lives through his journalism.

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“It’s been a great privilege and rewarding challenge to lead the consumer unit for 31 years,” he said. “With the company’s full support, the Action 9 team assisted a few hundred consumers each month and aired investigations every week that hopefully made our viewers better consumers.”

During almost four decades at Channel 9, Ulrich won 12 Suncoast Emmy Awards and 26 nominations, as well as multiple Associated Press, Society of Professional Journalists and Sunshine State Awards for consumer reporting.

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Ulrich said he will spend his retirement both in Central Florida and at his new home in Pennsylvania.

“Consumer advocacy will remain a passion,” he said.

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