The Leitchfield Police Department’s new police chief was sworn-in at Monday night’s City Council meeting.
David Riley, who has served as interim police chief since August when Bryan Langdon resigned the position, was sworn-in as permanent chief by Leitchfield City Attorney Earlene Wilson.
Riley was hired as a Leitchfield police officer in 1991, and retired from the force in August 2017 as assistant police chief. But he rejoined the department in November 2017 as the LPD’s code enforcement officer, a position Riley served in until becoming interim chief.
“I’m really honored to have this opportunity to serve the people of Leitchfield,” Riley told K105. “I was born and raised here; I’ve been here all my life. I’ve seen lots of great people here, I had a great childhood growing up here, and I just want to have the opportunity to give back to the community and do like the old saying goes, ‘Our job is to protect and serve,’ and that’s what I intend for us to do.”
Riley, having been in law enforcement for nearly 30 years, made a point of thanking the men who provided him the chance to be a police officer.
“I’ve had the honor of working under several fantastic chiefs,” he said. “I was hired by Elmer Langdon and Sherrill Watson was mayor, and I just want to thank them for the opportunity that they gave me to do this. All I want to do is build on what the previous chiefs have done. (But I want to change for) the times, you have to change with the times, and that’s what I intend for us to do. This department has always been a special department for me; all these officers are professionals, and I just want to bring that out in them, and bring that out in the department.”
Law enforcement is a family affair for the new chief, as his father, Joe Riley, served as Leitchfield Police Chief beginning in 1967, and his brother, Brad Riley, is a long-time Kentucky State Police Trooper.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
