The search for the next director of the Riley County Police Department is winding down.
At Monday’s Law Board meeting in Leonardville, three finalists were announced, from a pool of 15 candidates. Those finalists include RCPD Administrative Captain Josh Kyle, Edwardsville, Kansas Police Chief Mark Mathies and Montpelier, Vermont Police Chief Brian Peete.
Law Board Chair Linda Morse says the board will host all three gentlemen at a forum next week.
“The forum will be held Thursday, Oct. 27 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Manhattan Fire Department Headquarters (2000 Denison Ave.). The forum will start with finalists’ presentations, followed by a question-and-answer session.
Community members in attendance will be able to submit agency-related questions, facilitated by a moderator. Morse says the board is happy to be finishing up the search process.
“This has been a long process and this has been a do-it-yourself on the part of the Law Board, rather than hiring a company to do it. We’re nearing the end of this process, to all of our relief. We’ll be happy to have a conclusion.
Morse says the board, which has conducted several special meetings in executive session since the spring, expects to name a director by Dec. 1.
For those unable to attend the Oct. 27 forum, RCPD will livestream it on its Facebook page.
No other action was taken at Monday’s meeting aside from a pair of executive sessions, including one for potential disciplinary action for non-elected personnel.
The board typically hosts two meetings annually outside of Manhattan, in an effort to engage community members in other parts of the county. No one from the public attended Monday’s meeting in Leonardville, prompting Chair Morse to suggest the agency and the board work to better promote the out of town meetings in the future.
