Police Chief Direk L. Hunt announced he will not seek a fourth term and plans to retire after the upcoming city election in April.
Hunt shared his decision during the Perryville Board of Aldermen meeting on July 15 at city hall, submitting a letter to Mayor Larry Riney and board members outlining his career and future plans.
“It is with great pride that I share my intention to retire after my current term as Perryville Chief of Police (City Marshal),” Hunt wrote. “After completing my military service as a military police investigator for the United States Army, I joined the Perryville Police Department as a patrolman on June 14, 1988. I have since served as a patrol corporal, traffic officer, detective, lieutenant (detective supervisor) and interim city marshal. I was first elected as chief of police in April 2014 and will have completed three full terms in office come April’s election.”
Hunt closed the letter with gratitude for the city and a look ahead to retirement.
“The City of Perryville has helped provide a good life for me and my family, and I look forward to continuing to serve our community in my retirement as a deacon at St. Vincent De Paul Church,” he wrote. “Thank you for the support you have provided myself and the police department these many years, and I wish the city continued good fortune in the future.”
Hunt’s letter included a timeline of his service with the department: ■ June 14, 1988 — Hired as patrolman ■ Feb. 7, 1992 — Promoted to patrol corporal ■ Jan. 9, 1995 — Became traffic officer ■ July 2, 2003 — Assigned as detective ■ April 1, 2008 — Promoted to detective supervisor ■ April 22, 2013 — Appointed interim city marshal ■ April 15, 2014 — Elected chief of police
Mayor Riney praised Hunt’s dedication.
“Chief Hunt has dedicated nearly four decades to law enforcement and to serving the people of Perryville,” Riney said. “We appreciate his commitment to leading the department through the years. As his term comes to a close, we thank him for his service and wish him well in the future.”
City Administrator Brent Buerck reflected on Hunt’s leadership and long tenure.
“Several years ago, the board of aldermen asked then-Lieutenant Hunt if he would be willing to serve as the interim chief of police. He readily agreed and has since been reelected three times,” Buerck said. “Thirty-seven years in any job is a special commitment, but when it is a career in law enforcement, it’s a true testament to Chief Hunt and his family’s service to our community. We wish him well and look forward to watching him serve the community as a deacon for the church at St. Vincent.”
Capt. Jon Lanier, who has worked alongside Hunt for more than 25 years, praised his leadership and mentorship.
“I’ve worked with Chief Hunt since 1998, and I went through the ranks with him,” Lanier said. “For a long time, both he and I were detectives at the police department. I learned a lot from Chief Hunt. He was a good mentor, a good teacher, and a good leader.
“I was proud of him when he became a deacon at his church. That was a busy time for him to go through all the training, but that’s the dedication he has. He’s got a lot of dedication for the City of Perryville itself, the community, the citizens, the employees, and fellow workers. It’s going to be different when he retires, most definitely.”
