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Napel retires from MDOC after 41 years of service

Michigan Department of Corrections Assistant Deputy Director Robert Napel of Marquette retires after more than 41 years of state service with the Michigan Department of Corrections. Napel’s career was celebrated on February 26 at the Correctional Facilities Administration Kinross Office in Kincheloe, where he was honored by many and presented with formal recognition of his years of state service from Michigan Department of Corrections Director, Heidi Washington.

Napel began his career on October 15, 1978 as a corrections officer at Marquette Branch Prison. Through years of hard work and dedication he was promoted several times, working his way through the ranks as a resident unit officer, assistant resident unit manager, resident unit manager, assistant deputy warden, deputy warden and warden, all while working at Marquette Branch Prison. Napel was known as the historian of Marquette Branch Prison; throughout the years, he shared that history as well as the many different artifacts with department staff who visited and toured the Marquette Branch Prison.

While achieving much throughout his career, Napel had many accomplishments which were quite remarkable. As the deputy warden of Marquette Branch Prison, Napel brought Leader Dog and Vocational Trades programs to the facility (Warden), as well as initiated and successfully led the implementation of the In-Reach Services Program for the Upper Peninsula, fully embracing the need to better prepare offenders for success in the community.

In 2015, Napel was involved in the dedication of the Officer Earl DeMarse Highway in Marquette, in memory of Officer Earl DeMarse who passed away in the line of duty at Marquette Branch Prison. Further, Napel was instrumental in the conveyance of land to Northern Michigan University for the Forensic Research Program, which is one of the only nine outdoor forensic anthropology research facilities in the world.

In addition to his many positions held throughout his years with the department, he was instrumental in the development of the department’s shooting teams and events. Bob Napel is an avid bullseye shooter and a member of the director’s shoot team; he always placed at worksite events and was always on the leader board. In addition to the worksite shooting events, Napel competed in Police Pistol Combat Matches. Napel first re-established pistol shooting competitions at MBP in 2013 following the end of the Upper Peninsula Criminal Justice Association Pistol Tournament in 2011. He had so much pride for Marquette Branch and the employees of MBP, that he had a Shooting Tournament trophy made with some of the first keys which were embedded in some of the original bricks of Marquette Branch Prison. This trophy was to travel with the winning team of the Marquette Branch Shooting Tournament; Napel takes pride in the fact that this trophy remained with Marquette Branch Prison during the remainder of his time as Warden at Marquette Branch Prison. Even after leaving Marquette for his promotion to Assistant Deputy Director in 2017, Napel continued his involvement serving as the Chairman of the Director’s MDOC Shooting Team Organization.

Napel had an extremely accomplished career, retiring as the assistant deputy director responsible for the oversight of the thirteen widespread correctional facilities of the Northern Region. Napel was an exceptional employee, who was very dedicated to corrections.

In Director Washington’s retirement letter of recognition to Mr. Napel, she stated, “Your tireless work in maintaining a high standard of performance was especially appreciated as was your commitment to being very organized, hard-working, loyal and dedicated to serving both the staff and prisoners.” After 41 years of state service, Robert Napel’s knowledge and experience will be sorely missed in the Michigan Department of Corrections.

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