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By TYLER RALEY | Staff Writer

HOOVER – Capping the night off in front of the citizens of Hoover and the Hoover City Council, Hoover Police Chief Nick Derzis made a special announcement pertaining to his near future.

During a regularly scheduled Hoover City Council meeting on Monday, June 23 at Hoover City Hall, Derzis announced his appointment of Hoover Assistant Police Chief Norman McDuffey as the acting police chief as he takes his leave of vacation from the position.

On March 17, Derzis announced his campaign for the mayoral seat in the city of Hoover, challenging current incumbent Frank Brocato.

As required by law in the state of Alabama, Derzis must take a leave of vacation from his role as the police chief from the day he qualifies as a candidate to the day the election results are finalized in August.

Derzis thanked all the people who he has come in contact with in his time at the top of the Hoover Police Department, voicing his appreciation for the work the department does.

“I have been honored to serve the citizens of Hoover the last 40-plus years as a police officer and the last 20.5 as the police chief,” Derzis said. “I have been blessed to have the opportunity to work with the men and women, and the finest group of men and women that wear a uniform, and really just blessed to have been a part of it. Like I say all the time, nobody does it like we do.”

The city of Hoover has also made many moves in recent years, bringing businesses to the city in order to continue its efforts of making it thrive financially.

On his way into his vacation, Derzis also thanked those with the city outside of the HPD that he feels have brought the city to what it is today.

“I’d also like to say that I’ve been proud to serve with the other city employees, and I really think that’s the reason we have this great city is because of what the employees have done the years that I’ve been here,” Derzis said. “I appreciate the opportunities that I’ve been given tonight, and I’ll say goodbye tonight and I’ll see you guys in about two months.”

McDuffey began his time in law enforcement in 1990 as a patrol officer with the Birmingham Police Department. He continued to serve as an officer and sergeant before moving over to Hoover in 2001.

During his time with the HPD, McDuffey has served as a patrol officer, canine handler and investigator. He has also been a supervisor in the Crimes Against Persons Unit and in the Operations Bureau as well as a division commander in Patrol and in Investigations.

“Thank you very much,” McDuffey said to the Hoover City Council. “I appreciate it very much the leadership and assistance and support the council has given us my 24 years here. It certainly is not as long as chief has been here, but very fortunate as he said to work with a group of employees that we do, have the support of the government that we do and we’re going to continue on for the next two months doing the Hoover way in the things that we do.”

During his opening campaign speech in March, Derzis wants to maintain Hoover’s reputation as one of the safest cities in Alabama, while also striving to invest in the first responders and protect the city’s homes, businesses and families.

Brocato has held his seat as mayor since first being sworn in to the position in 2016 and is now campaigning for a third term as the leader of Hoover.

The municipal election for the city of Hoover will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 26.