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Fort Madison Police Chief Steps Down, Interim Named

City of Fort Madison
City Manager David Varley says he appointed Capt. Bruce Gustafson (L) as Interim Police Chief Tuesday afternoon, following Bruce Niggemeyer's (R) decision to seek a reassignment from chief to captain.

There is a new man in charge of the Fort Madison Police Department as Captain Bruce Gustafson has been promoted to interim Police Chief. City Manager David Varley made the announcement in a brief email Tuesday afternoon.

Gustafson has been serving as the FMPD's Dayshift Captain. He replaces Bruce Niggemeyer, who served as Police Chief for about eight years.

Niggemeyer asked to be reassigned from Chief to Captain on Friday, Nov. 20. He spoke with Tri States Public Radio Tuesday morning, but declined to comment on his decision. He did say he loves Fort Madison and wants to stay involved, thus his decision to remain on the department as a captain.

Bruce Gustafson will also replace Niggemeyer on the oversight board for Lee County's emergency dispatch center. Niggemeyer had been serving as Chairman, but had to step down because Fort Madison's Police Chief serves on the board, per its bylaws.

It's unclear whether Gustafson will step in as Chairman or if that duty will fall to Keokuk Police Chief Dave Hinton or Lee County Sheriff Jim Sholl.

Jason Parrott is a former reporter at Tri States Public Radio.