The city of Cullman will seek to replace its second chief of police in a two-year span, following an announcement Monday that current Chief David Nassetta will retire at the end of this fiscal year.
Nassetta, a Cullman native, has served with the Cullman Police Department since 1996, a 27-year span that began after he joined as a reserve officer in the mid-1990s.
“The city of Cullman has been a fantastic place to work,” Nassetta told The Times on Monday. “The community is still one of the few places that respects law enforcement, and respects what we do, and is appreciative of what we do. I feel a strong attachment to our community: The people of this community have consistently made my job easier, at every level of my career.”
A St. Bernard Prep School and Auburn University graduate, Nassetta built his law enforcement career with the city of Cullman. He was promoted to sergeant in 2014, to lieutenant in 2018 and assistant police chief in 2022 before assuming the chief’s role in 2022. Nassetta also worked in narcotics and served as firearms instructor, Tactical Unit member and Task Force Officer for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, according to a city press release.
“I’m really appreciative of the people I’ve had the opportunity to work with over the years; of the terrific mentors who have gone before me,” Nassetta said. “And I’m also really appreciative of the people who are doing the job now. So much has changed in our culture and in law enforcement over the years — and even in the face of that, I work with people who continue to choose law enforcement as their career. I really do have a great amount of respect for the people I work with, for the people who work at the police department today.”
Nassetta said he hasn’t made definitive post-retirement plans just yet, though wherever his next career steps do take him, they’ll likely first be preceded by a little bit of well-earned downtime.
“I’ve got some ideas, but I don’t have anything set in stone,” he said. “I am looking into a couple of things. But I will probably take a little time off and kind of enjoy, for a moment, not having a lot of the stress that’s involved in running a department.”
The city’s fiscal year runs annually from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30, meaning Nasstta’s retirement will become effective at the end of September. Nassetta was named Cullman police chief in December of 2022. He replaced former chief Kenny Culpepper, who retired that same year after serving as chief for 34 years, the longest leadership term in the department’s history.
“Throughout his career, Chief Nassetta has prioritized the safety and well-being of Cullman residents, while fostering strong relationships within the community,” city officials shared in a prepared statement marking Nassetta’s upcoming retirement. “His leadership has not only enhanced public safety but has also built trust between the Police Department and the citizens.
“As he steps down, the city of Cullman expresses gratitude for his unwavering dedication and the positive impact he has made during his tenure,” they continued. “Chief Nassetta leaves behind a legacy of service marked by compassion and professionalism, and he will be greatly missed by both his colleagues and the community. Chief Nassetta has always been a leader who showed empathy, compassion and a selfless desire to truly help others. This city is truly a better place because of his servant leadership and dedication to law enforcement for the past 26 years.”
Nassetta is the second law enforcement leader to announce his retirement in the past few days. On Friday, Aug. 2, Cullman County Sheriff Matt Gentry announced he would not seek another term.