MIDDLETOWN, Ohio — After a 30-year career in law enforcement, Middletown Division of Police Chief Rodney Muterspaw will retire in January 2020, the department announced Monday.
Muterspaw became chief in 2014. Before that, he served as a patrol officer, detective, special operations sergeant and deputy chief of police in Middletown.
“I commend Chief Muterspaw on his distinguished career with the city,” said Middletown City Manager Doug Adkins. “He has made tremendous strides in the transparency and community involvement that the police department is now known for. We thank him for his service in helping to make Middletown a great place to live, work and play.”
Muterspaw has been outspoken in his role as police chief, weighing in on topics ranging from accepting women in law enforcement positions to police shootings across the country.
While he was chief and in working with other city departments, Middletown saw drug overdoses decline sharply in 2018 after Muterspaw led Middletown police to join the Butler County Regional Narcotics Task Force in 2017.
Muterspaw received several awards over his career, including the Middletown NAACP Leadership Award, Martin Luther King Drum Leadership Award and Kingswell Impact Middletown History Maker Award.
He has served on the Butler County Chiefs of Police Association and the Butler County Safety Council Executive Board.
Officials said the department will hold “internal chief testing” before announcing Muterspaw’s successor later this year.
