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E-mailWest Mifflin Police Chief Popovich to retire
Chief Joe Popovich
Sidney Davis/Tribune-Review
Craig Smith is a Pittsburgh Tribune-Review staff writer and can be reached at 412-380-5646 or via e-mail.
The man named West Mifflin police chief four years ago to turn around a department rocked by scandal finds his retirement setting off a controversy.
Chief Joseph Popovich is stepping down after 28 years on the force — including four years in charge. His last day is Tuesday.
Popovich has recommended that Mayor John Andzelik promote from within and name 15-year veteran Lt. Mike Ragan as his replacement.
Andzelik — whose term expires at the end of the year and is running for election to council — said he favors seeking outside candidates as well as Ragan.
"I've asked council to open it up for anybody who wants to apply," said Andzelik, a former West Mifflin police chief himself who is in his second term as mayor.
Council President William Welsh disagrees.
"It's complete politics," Welsh said. "We have a chief, a captain and two lieutenants who agree on who should be the next chief. ... Whether you like Chief Popovich or not, you have to respect what he did with the department."
Popovich took over in "probably the worst time in West Mifflin police history and turned it around," said Welsh, who lost his bid for another council term in the May primary.
In October 2005, former police Chief Frank Diener resigned and was sentenced in May 2007 to a year and one day in federal prison for obstructing justice and violating federal drug laws. He also pleaded guilty to 19 state charges; he served the federal and state sentences together. Diener was released from prison last year.
Andzelik's likely successor as mayor, Chris Kelly, has asked to be involved in the interview process. He has not received an answer to his request but, like Andzelik, wants to keep the borough's options open.
"We should look at the best possible candidate," said Kelly, who also had a long career as a police officer — 35 years, including 20 as police chief in Baldwin Borough and 12 as chief in Homestead.
Under Popovich's leadership, the department obtained Tasers, new patrol cars and new radios with the department's own frequency.
Popovich said morale within the department is 100 percent better than when he took over four years ago.
"I enjoyed being chief," he said.
Popovich, who turns 62 on Oct. 18, said nothing in particular swayed his decision to step down.
"It's time. I've accomplished what I wanted to do," he said.
The chief said he has no particular plans — except to collect his first Social Security check Dec. 16.
"I'll take it easy for awhile. ... enjoy the grandkids," Popovich said.
His wife, Rhonda, has two years left on her term as a West Mifflin councilwoman.
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