By James Windell
Following seven months as interim police chief of South Haven, Adama DeBoer was promoted to Police Chief. This was announced by the City on November 24, 2025.
“Adam is a dedicated and experienced leader who knows and cares deeply about South Haven, its people and the department,” South Haven City Manager Kate Hosier said in a press release. “He’s done an incredible job for the past seven months as he’s worked to strengthen the relationship between our officers, residents, businesses and visitors while advancing the department’s commitment to public safety and community policing.”
DeBoer was named interim police chief in April, 2025, after Police Chief Dennis Honholt resigned earlier that month.
DeBoer has served with the South Haven Police Department for more than 20 years. He joined the department in 2004 as a police officer and was promoted to sergeant in 2017. As a sergeant, he supervised road patrol officers, served as the department’s training coordinator, and managed its property and evidence room, among other roles. He previously served in a variety of roles for the department, including road patrol, as a narcotics detective for the Southwest Enforcement Team and as a detective.
During his career with the South Haven Police Department, DeBoer has received numerous honors and commendations, including a Distinguished Service award, a lifesaving award and a unit citation. He is a graduate of the School of Police Staff and Command at Eastern Michigan University. DeBoer has also completed the California State Parks Ocean Lifeguard Training and Indiana River Rescue Technician courses.
In his role as interim chief, he oversaw all police department operations, including community event planning and continued cooperation with local law enforcement agencies.
As interim chief, DeBoer demonstrated his leadership abilities by managing complex initiatives and enhancing department operations. He ensured full staffing of the department by reinstating critical positions, including the school resource officer, he advanced two new officers through field training and helped enroll a police recruit at the Grand Valley State University Police Academy. The new recruit recently graduated and will begin field training in the new few weeks.
In the City’s press release, it was stated that he further demonstrated commitment to his department’s career advancement by enrolling officers in 35 classes through the West Michigan Training Consortium, covering a broad spectrum of law enforcement topics, while participating personally in leadership development programs. DeBoer also strengthened community engagement by representing the department at community meetings and regional events and by coordinating officer participation in high-profile community initiatives such as National Night Out and Family Fun Fest.
DeBoer was instrumental in advancing the department’s Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police accreditation and updating operational policies and software. “I am deeply honored to serve as the South Haven Police Chief,” DeBoer was quoted as saying in the press release. “I want to thank the community for their trust and support. Our department is built on a foundation of service, and I am eager to lead our dedicated officers as we work together to keep our neighborhoods safe and strengthen our connection with the people we serve.”
