A retirement reception for Statesboro Police Chief Mike Broadhead is set for Tuesday – 2- 4 p.m. – inside the Municipal Court on West Grady St. The public is invited to the reception.

Broadhead announced his retirement in May, effective July 1, after leading the department for nine years. Statesboro Police Capt. Jared Akins was named interim chief last week while the city launches a search for a new chief. Akins said he would not seek the chief position.

The announcement of Akins’ appointment followed a public input town hall held June 15 where community members shared their priorities for the next permanent police chief. The city is currently partnering with executive search firm Developmental Associates to conduct a nationwide search for Broadhead’s successor.

Statesboro City Manager Charles Penny said that he hopes to have the police chief position posted by the end of June, with the anticipation of filling the position in late October to early November.

Broadhead, 60, arrived in Statesboro in April 2017 after serving seven years as the chief of police in Riverton, Wyoming. His career began in 1984 as a military police officer in the U.S. Army. Following his military service, he spent 22 years with the police department in Littleton, Colorado, where he rose through the ranks from patrol officer to lieutenant.

Before his career in municipal police work, Broadhead served from age 18 in the U.S. Army as a military police officer. He has a master’s degree in public administration from American Public University and a graduate certificate from the School for Police Staff and Command at Northwestern University.