The top cop in one of Iowa’s largest cities is turning in his badge. Davenport police chief Mike Bladel is retiring and plans to leave his job in February. Bladel says his wife, Mickey, is a corporate tax accountant and has a job opportunity in Ames so he will be "moving on." He says they’ll be moving to Des Moines.
Bladel, the former Scott County Sheriff, says he’s sad to leave but has enjoyed a long law enforcement career in Davenport. Bladel thanked the men and women of the Davenport police department for helping him through the years and "developing the finest law enforcement agency in the Midwest."
The 58-year-old says he’s not ready to quit working and will look for police or security work in the Des Moines area. He says he’ll leave before February if an employment opportunity develops.