“One 10 code that is not as familiar to the general public is 10-42,” said interim Chief Mike McClain during a ceremony Friday to honor long-time Poplar Bluff Police Chief Danny Whiteley at the Black River Coliseum.
He explained this particular code “is used to indicate an officer’s end of tour.”
Whiteley took the scanner and gave his last 10-42 with a tear during the emotional ceremony in front of friends, family, area officials and co-workers as his more than two-decade career comes to a close.
During the ceremony, Poplar Bluff police officers greeted Whiteley in formation with a salute, which he returned.
Whiteley is well known as the longest-serving chief of police in the department’s 139-year history, serving the residents of this area for more than 22 years.
His law enforcement career began in 1972 as a reserve deputy, serving the sheriff’s departments in Butler, Ripley and Scott counties. He has spent his time not only leading the department but also working closely with the Southeast Missouri Drug Task Force. Whiteley always played an active role in the community, according to those who spoke. Before assuming his role as chief, he also served on the Poplar Bluff R-I Board of Education in the 1990s.
“Chief Whiteley has been a tenacious and dedicated lawman for Poplar Bluff for over two decades. I think he loved his job and wanted to help protect the town where he grew up,” said Mayor Steve Davis, who praised Whiteley, saying he came from a family that values public service and believes this was at the heart of what Whiteley wanted to do.
During the retirement ceremony, many community members took the opportunity to praise Whiteley.
Senator Josh Hawley also addressed the crowd via zoom, saying, “What you have done for the community and what you have done for the state, what you’ve done for me personally, it’s just hard to put into words.”
State Rep. Hardy Billington, Sikeston Department of Public Safety Chief James McMillen, Mayor Steve Davis, Butler County Emergency Management Director Robbie Myers, as well as many others also took the opportunity to speak of Whiteley and the impact he has left on the city of Poplar Bluff and its residents.
Whiteley has worked through many significant issues throughout his years with the department, such as severe ice storms, COVID-19 and civil unrest, but he said the most important case in all his years in law enforcement was the safe return of a young girl named Abigail who had been kidnapped from her home in 2012 in south Poplar Bluff.
“We located her in less than 12 hours,” Whiteley said, as he introduced her to the crowd. “We are proud she was safely rescued from one of the most evil, despicable creeps I have ever known.”
Whiteley addressed the crowd, which has looked to him for guidance and safety throughout the many years of his career, and said, “I sincerely appreciate each one of you for coming today — I’ve been on a huge roller coaster of emotions remembering all the fun times, which far outweigh all the not fun times.”
In retirement, Whiteley and his wife plan to relocate to be closer to family.
McClain has been named interim chief, pending the hiring of a new chief.