Kosciusko Police Chief Chris Wray resigned last Wednesday, June 8.
Mayor Tim Kyle told The Star-Herald that the Board of Aldermen accepted Wray's resignation in a special-called meeting that same afternoon.
Wray has served as chief of police since Oct. 8, 2021.
Wray said he made the decision to resign based on what is best for himself and his family.
“I’ve made the decision to resign from the position because KPD is not what is best for me and my family at this time,” said Wray. “I really appreciate all of the support from the community and the officers.”
A Kosciusko native, Wray said he originally joined the department because he felt he could assist his hometown.
“I made the decision to take the position with KPD because Kosciusko is my hometown, and I felt that I could help our community,” he said. “I think that I have made a positive difference while I was with KPD. I hope that they continue to do the community service programs that I have implemented.”
While declining to mention his future plans, Wray said he is looking forward to his next journey.
“I am very excited about my next endeavor,” he said, “and I wish everyone at KPD the very best.”
Mayor Kyle said Wray entered a difficult situation when joining the department and ultimately made the decision best for himself and the city.
“Chris came into a situation, and he’s a guy not from here (recently),” said Kyle. “Chris graduated high school here, but he hasn’t lived here a long time. It’s been a difficult thing, and Chris just decided that this was the point where it would probably be best for him and his family to do something different.”
Kyle said Wray made the sole decision to resign, and he appreciates the things the former chief did to better the department.
“Chris did a lot of good things for the department when he was here. He got a lot of new equipment and established a take-home car policy. But it's been a difficult road. You hear all these rumors and stuff, but Chris had just decided this would be a better move for him and his daughter, too.”
Retired Kosciusko Police Chief R.J. Adams was named the department’s new interim chief following Wray’s resignation.
Adams began working as interim chief on Friday, June 10.
The city aldermen held a special-called meeting at 1 p.m. last Thursday afternoon, which included an hour-long executive session to discuss candidates for an interim chief.
Following the executive session, the board unanimously voted for the former chief to take the helm.
Adams joined the Kosciusko Police Department in 1994 and was appointed chief in 2002. He served as police chief for 13 years until his retirement in 2015.
