Col. Thomas F. Mac Leish will retire as Delaware State Police Superintendent effective July 1.
The announcement was made in a press release issued shortly before noon, June 30.
Mac Leish, who also was facing mandatory retirement at age 55 in August, joined the state police in 1977. Over the years, he rose steadily through the ranks. In 2001, he was promoted to major where he served as operations officer for Kent and Sussex counties.
In 2003, Mac Leish was promoted to lieutenant colonel, where he served until October 2004, when he was appointed acting superintendent by Gov. Ruth Ann Minner.
He was appointed to the superintendent’s position in 2005, with the rank of colonel.
On his last day as superintendent, Mac Leish, with the concurrence of Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security Lewis Schiliro, appointed Maj. Joseph Papili as acting superintendent.
Papili will oversee the day-to-day operations of the state police until a colonel is appointed by the governor’s office.
The selection of a new superintendent will be announced soon, said Joe Rogalsky, communications director for Gov. Jack Markell. Rogalsky did not give a timetable, but said Markell did not want to leave the position vacant.
Mac Leish’s replacement must come from the ranks of the state police, said state police spokesman Cpl. Jeff Whitmarsh. The position of deputy superintendent is currently vacant, he added.
