Ontwa Township and the Village of Edwardsburg are looking for a new police chief.
At its regular monthly police board meeting March 8, current chief Tim Kozal announced his resignation.
Kozal, who replaced Kenneth Wray in 2014, has accepted the position as public safety director with the City of Manistee.
Manistee will vote on his position at its March 22 meeting.
“I have been blessed with the opportunity to lead this team since 2014,” Kozal said. “I am confident that the inroads we have developed with the community, law enforcement and the school system will continue. I am blessed to have been surrounded by true believers in the organization, our vision and our goal to provide exemplary customer service to everyone.”
Kozal said he will continue to work with the department over the next few weeks, including the homicide trial that is scheduled to begin April. 11.
“We have come a long way as a department,” Kozal said. “We have come a long way with the infrastructure, with the morale, with our budget, with how we mix with community and our case closure. We have done a lot with our training.”
Kozal is also proud of the fact that his department’s solving of a pair of cold cases.
“Everything has come a long way in the two and a half years I have been able to lead the team,” he said.
Kozal said his background in public safety led to his decision to seek the Manistee position.
“Having that dual hat I have always loved,” Kozal said. “I saw it. I talked to my wife long and hard about it. I came down to where I had to overnight it to make sure it got there in time because I love what I do down here. I love the community and I love my job.”
Village of Edwardsburg President Jacque Tighe and Ontwa Township Supervisor Jerry Marchettie, both members of the police board, were saddened by the news.
“He has been a blessing the whole time he has been here,” Tighe said. “He has straightened out the budget. He has made big changes to the department that the community has been very receptive to. He has also changed the attitude of the community toward the department in a very positive manner.”
“In my short time I have enjoyed working with Tim,” Marchetti said. “He is very professional. It is going to be a loss to us. We will have to take the next step now in looking for a replacement.”
Marchetti added that the search for a new chief would begin quickly.