'His legacy will be everlasting': Exeter Deputy Police Chief Michael Munck retiring
EXETER — After rising through the ranks during his 27-year career, Deputy Police Chief Michael Munck has decided to hang up his hat.
Munck is planning to retire on Jan. 28.
While he looks forward to spending more time with family, including their three cats, doing some cat rescue work and working in public service in some capacity, Munck is reflecting on his time in law enforcement and the dedication shown by the many officers and their families he’s met along the way.
“I would like just to take a moment to recognize and thank my family and all law enforcement families," he said. "When we as police officers go to work every day, they are left at home not knowing whether it will be the last time they will see us. I think it is something that gets taken for granted by us, as well as society in general, but it is important to remember the sacrifices which they make at home as well.”
A rewarding career
Munck began his law enforcement career in 1994, working for the Rollinsford and Milton police departments before coming to Exeter in 1998.
During his years in Exeter, he has served as a field training officer, detective, patrol sergeant, detective sergeant, captain, and was promoted to deputy chief in June 2019.
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Munck has had a hand in numerous high-profile investigations during his time in Exeter, including cases involving allegations of sexual misconduct at Phillips Exeter Academy and the 2018 murder of Carol Felides, whose killer, Derek Webber, is now in prison after pleading guilty in 2019.
“Both of these were complex cases that I had the opportunity to work on with a team of dedicated professionals,” Munck said.
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As he looks back on his long career, Munck said he found his time working as a juvenile detective and serving on a regional SWAT team known as the Seacoast Emergency Response Team (SERT) the most rewarding.
“As a juvenile detective, in addition to teaching D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education), I was able to help bring justice for abused and neglected kids and their families as well as adult victims of sexual assault," he said. "As part of SERT for the past 10 years as a crisis negotiator, I have been able to participate in bringing numerous high-risk situations to a peaceful resolution with one of the best emergency response teams in the state.”
One of the 'top detectives' in Exeter
Police Chief Stephan Poulin spoke of Munck’s commitment to the department and the community he served for so long.
“We are all going to deeply miss Deputy Chief Michael Munck," Poulin said. "Having had the honor and privilege to work with him over the last 20 years, first as patrol officers and then upwards into various levels of promotion at the command level, I can state with certainty that the town of Exeter and the Exeter Police Department are better places because of his 24 years of devotion to duty, perseverance, and strong work ethic.
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Poulin said Munck is an incredible problem-solver and "his keen investigative skills and ability to solve cases with a victim-oriented approach has him at the top of the list of detectives that I have ever known in this field."
"Michael’s footprint of accomplishments as an instructor, a mentor, and a leader within this agency is vast and his legacy will be everlasting," Poulin said. "All of us at the Exeter Police Department wish him the very best in his retirement. He has certainly earned it.”
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Exeter Deputy Police Chief Michael Munck retiring after 27 year career
