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The City of Niceville announced the retirement of longtime Police Chief David Popwell Sunday morning.
Popwell had been with the city of Niceville for 19 years and served in the Air Force 20 years before that.
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“There is no discipline or firing. He is going out on a high note,” City Manager David Deitch said in a phone conversation with Mid Bay News on Saturday afternoon, “He successfully apprehended a murder suspect two weeks ago. He’s a dedicated public servant, who served the city selflessly for twenty years. Niceville has been recognized as the safest city in Florida twice in a row, due in no small part to him.”
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Popwell confirmed his retirement with Mid Bay News in an in person interview on February 17th.
Deitch said Popwell’s retirement would be effective March 1.
Deitch did not reveal a succession plan for police department leadership in his conversation with Mid Bay News or in the City of Niceville’s press release.
Mid Bay News’ Christopher Saul sat down for a segment of The Interview podcast with Chief Popwell. We talked about his plans, the state of city safety and more.
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