Riley County Police Department director Brian Peete confirmed to The Mercury Thursday morning that he is resigning, effective Dec. 31.
Peete, 50, didn’t give a specific reason for his decision. But the confirmation came despite the Riley County law enforcement agency board in January agreeing to a contract extension for his employment to end Dec. 30, 2027.
As previously reported by The Mercury, Peete’s employment as RCPD director began Dec. 30, 2022, on a three-year deal, with a starting salary of $160,171. He got a renewed two-year deal announced in January running through the end of 2027; that extension set an annual salary of $197,088.
Peete told The Mercury Thursday he originally planned to do a five-year stint with RCPD upon his hiring. Instead it will end being up a four-year term.
“I believe good leadership means growing folks and getting everyone prepped for the next level, and then stepping out of the way,” Peete said. “That’s what I believe leadership is in every organization, because that gives everyone the opportunity to move up.”
Kathryn Focke, chair of the law enforcement board, was unavailable for comment. The board held a special meeting June 10, with the sole agenda item being an executive session.
The RCPD director answers to that board, which is made up of city and county elected officials and appointed citizens. The board will be in charge of hiring Peete’s replacement.
Peete was hired after a national search to replace Brad Schoen, who had retired.
