Judge Grant Bannister administered the oath of office for newly hired Riley County Police Department Director Brian Peete in the Riley County Courthouse on Friday, December 30, 2022.
Follow these links for more on Peete’s hiring and contract. (1), (2).
Peete is the 6th director in department history, coming to the county from Montpelier, Vermont, and is the first African American director in the agency’s history. Listen to the full ceremony above. See photos from the morning below:
Judge Grant Bannister Friday administered the oath of office for new RCPD Director Brian Peete, who remarked on the responsibility of the job and pledged himself to uphold the highest ethical standards in the line of duty.
Peete was selected from three finalists for the director position, officially announced by the Riley County Law Board as the department’s sixth director on October 31st. Peete was approved a 5-year contract by the Law Board, and will earn an average annual salary just over $160,000.
Peete says the experience was humbling, and that he plans to get started quickly.
Peete, the first African American director in agency history, comes to Riley County by way of Montpelier, Vermont – with history as chief also in Alamogordo, New Mexico. In his remarks, the new department head committed himself to be accountable and supportive to the community and those working in his new department.
Following the ceremony, he met with media and says he is grateful for the opportunity to have his family in attendance — noting he tried to stay stoic, though the morning was one of emotion.
Manhattan Mayor and Law Board Chair Linda Morse welcomed Peete to the community, but also took time to recognize the work of Interim Director Kurt Moldrup – who did double-duty as his own assistant after Director Butler departed the agency.
Law Board Member and County Attorney Barry Wilkerson also took time to welcome Peete and his family to the community, and says he looks forward to working with him.
