Police chief to retire from booming lakeside town in Mecklenburg County
Cornelius Police Chief David Baucom has announced he’s retiring after nearly 30 years in law enforcement, town officials said in an Oct. 5 news release.
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Baucom has been with the department since 1999 and took over as chief in 2022, officials said. He will remain as chief through Dec. 31.
The town will announce plans regarding his replacement next week, officials said.
“During his tenure as Chief, Baucom has led the department through significant challenges, growth and changes in the community,” town officials said in an Oct. 5. news release.
“One of the most prominent cases during his tenure has been the ongoing investigation into the disappearance of Madalina Cojocari, which began approximately two weeks before Baucom became Chief. The investigation remains active.”
Madalina was 11 when she was last seen getting off her school bus on Nov. 21, 2022, investigators say. He mother and stepfather did not report her missing until Dec. 15, 2022, when school officials confronted them, The Charlotte Observer reported. Each parent gave conflicting statements about what happened to the girl, The Observer reported.
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Madalina’s whereabouts remain a mystery.
Baucom is a Charlotte native who graduated from Independence High School in 1989, and joined the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office in 1992, officials said. His tenure with the department included working in the jail and later for the domestic violence unit, enforcing domestic violence protective orders.
Since joining the Cornelius Police Department, Baucom has worked in every division, including eight years as commander of the SWAT team, town officials said.
“While retirement is bittersweet, I am looking forward to spending time with my family and starting the next chapter of my life,” Baucom said in the release.
“Service to others has been my focus throughout my career, and I will continue to serve others in some capacity as long as I am able. … The future of the town and police department is bright, and I look forward to seeing what the future holds.”
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