Retiring police Chief David Nisleit Thursday took his last walk out of the department to which he has given 36 years of service when he officially handed over the top position to recently selected Chief Scott Wahl.
Nisleit was the San Diego Police Department’s 35th chief, appointed to that role on March 2, 2018, by then-mayor Kevin Faulconer. He replaced outgoing Chief Shelley Zimmerman.
On Thursday, Nisleit exited the Police Headquarters lobby doors for the final time and turned over command to Wahl in a ceremony that included his final walkout, final radio broadcast and a symbolic change of command — a longtime SDPD tradition.
“Serving this community has been the honor of my life, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to work alongside such dedicated and brave officers,” Nisleit wrote in a social media post after the ceremony. “Thank you, San Diego, for your trust and support.”
He added, “The future of SDPD is bright, and I know our city is in capable hands.”
Wahl, who has served as a patrolman in the SDPD’s Southern Division and as a captain in the Northern Division in his 26-year career, was announced in March as Mayor Todd Gloria’s pick to succeed Nisleit.
Gloria nominated Wahl from a pool of 56 candidates “following an extensive national search and interview process that included vetting by community and law enforcement leaders,” according to the mayor’s office.
“I’ll just be honest with you, I’m full of emotion today,” Wahl said before the final vote approving the SDPD veteran’s move to the department’s top post.
“I’m committed to being transparent, committed to being accountable for the words that come out of my mouth and the actions I take every single day. Thank you very much for this opportunity.”
City News Service contributed to this article.
Updated 2:45 p.m. June 6, 2024
