Margate Police Chief David Wolfson announced he will retire July 1.
MARGATE – It’s been a great ride but it’s time to move on, Margate Police Chief David Wolfson said Thursday, Feb. 21 after the Board of Commissioners approved his retirement agreement effective July 1.
“I’m 35 years on the job, 20 of them as chief,” he said. “I had the greatest career anyone could ask for.”
He spent his entire police career in Margate, joining the force in January 1984 and becoming chief in May of 2000, he said.
The commissioners approved his retirement agreement at the meeting, which includes a 4.5 percent raise for 2019, along with 30 days of vacation and 15 days of sick time, which will both be pro-rated for the six-month period.
His retirement benefits include payouts for half of his 368 days of accumulated unused sick time. The remaining half will be donated to the city’s donated sick leave bank. He will be paid for 12 unused vacation days at his 2018 daily rate of pay.
The cost of the retirement benefits will be paid out in two equal payments of approximately $60,000 on July 31 and Jan. 31, 2020.
Wolfson, 58, said he has already charted a course for his retirement years, which will include working for his brother and nephew in their new venture – Range 129, a state-of-the-art pistol range that opened in Absecon in November. Wolfson said would help the family operate the business and provide safety training for those learning how to shoot.
Wolfson said he intends to remain on the job until his last day on June 30. It is likely the city commissioners have already selected his replacement from among the qualified officers working in the department, he said.
