The Pella Police Department will be seeking a new leader going forward. Pella Police Chief Robert Bokinsky will be leaving his post on March 6th after serving the City of Pella since February 2012. Bokinsky said at Monday’s city council budget meeting that he would be hard-pressed to find a better community to serve, as he is departing for family reasons.

“What’s not to like about Pella?” Bokinsky says. “I’ve been here for eight years and I’ve loved every minute that I’ve been here. I’ve met some great people and I have friends now that I’ll have for the rest of my life, and I’ve worked with good people at this police department, and many exciting things are happening in Pella now in the next few years, and I’d love to be here for that ride, but this essentially boiled down to a family decision.”

He will join the Scottsdale Police Department in Arizona later in March. The department is undergoing a full search to replace Bokinsky, and an interim chief will soon be announced by the City of Pella.