Scottsdale Police Chief Will Step Down Dec. 1

SCOTTSDALE, AZ — The Scottsdale Police Chief will be stepping down from the job on Dec. 1, and leaving law enforcement altogether.

Chief Alan Rodbell will be retiring to pursue a career in the private sector, the Scottsdale Police Department announced Friday. It is currently unclear what his new job will be.

In a statement, Rodbell said he feels confident leaving the department at this point in time and called it "the finest culture in law enforcement."

"It is an opportunity that comes at a time when I feel confident that the Scottsdale community is in great hands," Rodbell said in a statement. "I leave feeling good about the city and our police department."

Rodbell entered law enforcement in Maryland in 1976 and served there for 25 years, ending his tenure as Montgomery County's Assistant Police Chief. He joined the Scottsdale Police Department as Assistant Chief that same year and was soon promoted to Chief of Police. He has held the position since 2003, the second-longest tenure for a chief in the city of Scottsdale.

A spokesperson for the Scottsdale police did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding who Rodbell's replacement might be.

Scottsdale City Manager Jim Thompson thanked Rodbell for his service and said that the city maintains the utmost faith in its police department.

"The Scottsdale Police Department is a well-respected organization because of the exceptional men and women that serve our community," he said in a statement. "We have the highest confidence that they will continue to provide the exceptional delivery of police services that our community deserves.”