Following an executive session during a special called meeting of the Kosciusko Board of Aldermen Friday, the board unanimously accepted the retirement of Police Chief Herbert Dew, according to Mayor Tim Kyle.
During the same special called meeting, the board also hired retired Kosciusko Police Department Captain David White to serve as interim police chief.
Kyle said Dew had been talking about retiring, so the Board of Aldermen chose to meet and following the executive session, accepted Dew’s retirement. However, Dew’s last day could be as late as the end of August depending upon what he chooses to do with remaining vacation days.
“With our department, we’ve been struggling here lately. Chief Dew and I talked about that and it’s one of those deals that is up in the air now,” Kyle told The Star-Herald. “Chief Dew made his retirement announcement Friday, so we’ve hired Interim Chief White who had been with the force for a long time before he retired.”
Kyle said he and the board appreciate Dew’s many years of service.
“Chief Dew has had a long stint in the police department, and the city appreciates his service for all of the years he has put in. He worked his way up through the ranks,” said Kyle.
The mayor said he remembers being an alderman when Dew was hired as police chief. At the time, the city had three applicants vying to become police chief: Herbert Dew, David White, and someone who now works for county law enforcement. After reviewing the candidates at that time, former Mayor Jimmy Cockroft told the aldermen to return the next morning with a slip of paper bearing the name of the candidate they wanted to be the next chief. Kyle said all five aldermen submitted Herbert Dew’s name.
When asked for comment about his unexpected departure, Dew submitted a written statement to The Star-Herald:
“I have enjoyed the last 28-plus years at the Kosciusko Police Department. I haven’t worked anywhere else in law enforcement, so I think that shows my love and dedication to the department and the City of Kosciusko.”
Kyle said there were two people he thought of as potential interim police chief: David White and RJ Adams. Kyle said he spoke with White first, and White agreed accept the interim position. Kyle noted that White has years of knowledge and experience that they mayor hopes will have a positive impact on the department.
“One guy’s way of training is different from others, so you can always learn from different people. We look forward to David sharing some of his knowledge. Plus, I know David is going to work closely with the guys that are there and try to get our force built back up,” said Kyle. “Right now, that’s the main objective. We need to get our force back to where it needs to be and just go from there.”
The interim chief said he is looking forward to working with both familiar faces and new officers, and said his goal is to help the department until a new chief is hired.
Former KPD Captain David White is sworn in as Interim Police Chief.
Kyle said White is going to “hold down the ship” while the city takes applications for a new chief. Pending any changes, applications will be taken until 5 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 3.
White said he will not be an applicant for the permanent police chief position.
