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Director of Public Safety/Chief of Police David Molloy set to retire
Published: 1/19/2022
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Novi Director of Public Safety/Chief of Police David Molloy has announced his retirement from the City of Novi after 33 years with the Novi Police Department including the last 16 years as the Chief of Police and 11 years as the Director of Public Safety.

His last day will be Feb. 18, 2022.

Molloy leaves the department as a decorated officer and chief who transformed the Novi Police and Fire Departments into some of the nation’s premiere agencies. Under his tenure as Chief, the Novi Police Department became nationally accredited (and recently reaccredited) through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) and has received State of Michigan accreditation through the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police. The Novi Police Department is one of only three Michigan agencies to earn both state and CALEA accreditation. In 2021, the Novi dispatch center also became accredited by CALEA and the Novi Fire Department began its accreditation process.

Guided by the principles of “partners with our community” and “building public trust,” Molloy has effectively led a team of over 200 sworn police personnel, firefighters and support staff while managing a budget of more than $20 million. He has earned 29 department awards over the course of his career, and in 2021 received the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police Presidential Medal. The presidential medal is awarded for outstanding and extraordinary professional and personal service to the criminal justice system, the law enforcement profession, and the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police.

Mayor Bob Gatt, who worked as an officer with Molloy from 1989-2002 and has been Novi’s Mayor since 2011, said his relentless commitment to community policing and efforts to further enhance transparency among the two departments has positioned Novi for a bright future.

“Chief Molloy is a remarkable leader who never wavered in his commitment to doing what was right and who set the highest standards for integrity and professionalism,” said Gatt. “Our community is a better place because of his steady leadership. I am extremely grateful for his service and friendship over the years.”

Molloy joined the department as an officer in 1989 and moved up the ranks over the years to serve as a Detective, Sergeant, Detective Sergeant, Lieutenant, and Deputy Chief of Police before being appointed Chief of Police in 2005 by then-City Manager Rick Helwig. He was the Police Chief for five years before becoming the Director of Public Safety/Chief of Police in 2010. In his role as Director, he oversees a consolidated Public Safety Administrative team that manages all members of the police and fire departments.

Molloy has left an indelible mark on not just the community but on organizations throughout the state. Since 2005, he has served on the International Association of Chiefs of Police Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Committee and serves as an Executive Board Member and former two-term Chairperson of the Michigan High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas. He is also Past President of the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police, Oakland County Association of Chiefs of Police, and Southeast Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police.

Two governors from both sides of the aisle have also appointed him to serve on a pair of statewide committees – the Governor’s Council on Law Enforcement and Reinvention and the Governor’s Traffic Safety Advisory Commission.

Molloy has been a well-respected assistant adjunct professor at Madonna University since 2007 and has taught at the Police Staff and Command Executive Leadership programs at Eastern Michigan University and Michigan State University.

He is also the Founder, President and Executive Board Chairperson of the Novi Police and Fire Benevolent Association, a non-profit that has raised more than a million dollars and donated nearly $200,000 to families of police officers and firefighters in need along with needy families during the holiday season.

City Manager Pete Auger will seek to continue Novi’s distinction as a public safety leader and build upon Chief Molloy’s accomplishments when appointing his successor. 

A retirement Open House is planned for Friday, Feb. 18 at the Suburban Collection Showplace.  Information can be found at chiefmolloy2022.eventbrite.com.