Cornelius Police Chief David Baucom will retire Dec. 31, 2026, ending a career of more than three decades in law enforcement, the town announced this week. Baucom joined the Cornelius Police Department in 1999 and became chief in 2022. Before that, the Charlotte native spent six years with the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office. During his time in Cornelius, he served in roles including officer, sergeant, lieutenant, captain and major, and commanded the department’s SWAT team for more than eight years. “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 a statement. “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.” Baucom also led the investigation into the disappearance of Madalina Cojocari, who was 11 when she was last seen getting off her school bus in Cornelius on Nov. 11, 2022. Her school was notified she was missing on Dec. 15. The investigation began about two weeks before Baucom became chief, and police have said it remains active. In June 2024, police named Madalina’s mother, Diana Cojocari, as a suspect in the disappearance. Cojocari and Madalina’s stepfather, Christopher Palmiter, were convicted of failing to report the girl missing; neither was charged in her disappearance. U.S. immigration officials confirmed in September 2024 that Cojocari had left the country for Moldova, where she is from. Town Manager Andrew Grant praised Baucom’s leadership, saying he had raised the department’s standard of service and invested in its employees. The town said it plans to share information about the department’s future leadership in October.