New Castle County, Delaware Police Chief to retire

New Castle County’s Police Chief is ending his career of more than 20 years with the police force. 

Colonel David McGowan plans to retire from law enforcement effective October 1st, according to New Castle County Executive Paul Clark.

“He has served the people of New Castle County well,” Clark said.

McGowan, who is 49, rose through the ranks after joining the county police force in 1989 as a recruit.  He became a patrol officer, patrol supervisor, detective supervisor, and patrol squad commander before attaining the rank of major in 2009.  Later that year McGowan was named acting police chief, and was officially named chief in March 2010.

Among McGowan’s accomplishments was being named Kiwanis Officer of the Year for his role in the 1994 capture of Brian Steckel, who was executed in 2005 for the murder of Sandra Lee Long. 

Clark is expected to name an acting chief of the 334-member police department in the next few days.

According to a spokesman for Senator Chris Coons, McGowan will become the Senator’s New Castle County director.