By Glenn Rolfe

DAGSBORO — Town officials are in search mode for a chief of police.

Current Chief Steven Flood has announced plans to retire this summer, ending his five-year tenure in that role and after 25 years in law enforcement.

“This wasn’t an easy decision for me. But I figured, after 25 years, I’ve hijacked enough of my family’s time,” he said during Monday’s Town Council meeting. “It takes a lot of commitment and sacrifice to be in law enforcement, and after 25 years, I think I’m good with that.”

Aug. 9 will be his last day as chief. He also will be out of work for several weeks in June for knee surgery.

“I just want you to know we appreciate everything you have done for us,” Mayor William Chandler III said. “We hate to see you leave. If there is some way, we can get a warrant out and make you stay.”

Chief Flood joined the Dagsboro force in 2019, after 20 years with the Seaford Police Department, where he attained the rank of lieutenant. He assumed the chief’s reins in August of that year, when Floyd Toomey retired, ending a 32-year policing career.

Mr. Toomey, who had moved to a school constable position, passed away in March 2021.

Under Chief Flood, Dagsboro’s agency has grown from a two-person force to a six-member department, plus a K-9 named Buzz.

“It has been one of the greatest honors in my career, to be here for the past five years and to serve little Dagsboro. We accomplished a lot,” he said. “I want you all to know — and everybody from the town — that the officers that are here are some of the best in the state. You’re not going to find better people to serve the town than what we have.”

The chief recalls the tiny group he started with in Dagsboro.

“You have to build from the ground up at that point, and that is what we did,” he said. “There was a rough road in the beginning, but we got through it. I’m happy with what we’ve accomplished here.”

Mayor Chandler added that credit for the success of the department is due to Chief Flood.

“You mentioned how we’ve got a great team of people now, some of the best in the state,” the mayor said. “And I wanted to point out the fact that that is because of you (and) because of your leadership that we were able to attract those quality candidates that we have now serving the people of Dagsboro, protecting the people of Dagsboro.”

The search for his successor is being advertised.

“We’ll get the candidates in, and then, we’ll move forward from there,” Chief Flood said.

As of Monday, there had been five applicants, town administrator Cindi Brought noted. The end of the application period, which was set for this Friday, may be extended for several weeks.

Further, Mayor Chandler asked the chief to assist in the transition to make sure “all of the existing personnel have met all their requirements for training and everything else before you depart. That would help us have a smooth transition to whoever tries to fill your shoes coming in. It’s not going to be easy to do that.”

Chief Flood responded, “I know, with the new leader, it will stay where it is supposed to be and on the right path.”