After four years as police chief and more than three decades with the police department, Opp Police Chief Nickey Carnley is retiring, effective Oct. 31.

At a Friday council meeting, Opp Mayor H.D. Edgar and council members appointed assistant chief Mike McDonald to fill in until the new administration takes over and selects a new chief.

Mayor-elect John Bartholomew said he’s working on finding a new chief.

“We have someone in mind,” he said. “We’re going to announce it pretty quickly, probably within a week.”

Carnley said he’s had a “wonderful” 32 years.

“Most folk have hobbies like hunting and fishing,” he said. “Well, mine is law enforcement.”

Carnley said, “there’s no telling where I may turn up next.”

“I’ve got a lot of job offers,” he said.

Carnley first joined the Opp Police Department in May 1980 and, along with a small stint at the Covington County Sheriff’s office from 1983 to 1990, has remained a vigilant member of the Opp law enforcement community.

Carnley was appointed chief in 2008, when former chief Bill Shaw retired. Before then he was a captain and senior investigator for the OPD.