DeKalb Police Chief Bill Feithen announced Tuesdayhe will retire from the DeKalb Police Department and was hired as the police chief in Monmouth.

According to a press release from the city of DeKalb, Feithen was appointed as Monmouth police chief  Monday and will begin his position there on Feb. 27. Feithen will continue working as DeKalb police chief until Feb. 24.

Although Feithen says his time in DeKalb was well-spent, self-evolution is a constant process.

“It was a good fit,” Feithen said. “If you don’t have change, then sometimes you stop growing.”

City Manager Mark Biernacki said  he was advised of Fiethen’s intentions to separate from DeKalb once he became a finalist for the position.

The release stated Feithen began as a patrol officer for the DeKalb Police Department in 1975 and was promoted to chief in 2000.

“I have had a truly amazing and very fulfilling 37 year career with the City of DeKalb,” Feithen said in the release. “I have been blessed to have served with a top notch team of officers and police personnel. I will miss them dearly.”

Feithen said although he was excited to take the new position, it’s still going to be a difficult transition because he, his department and the community have been through a lot together within the last few years.

“It’s hard to say goodbye to people when you see them everyday,” Feithen said.

Feithen said he always felt honored to be a DeKalb officer.

“It was time for me to embark on another journey,” Feithen said.

The release states Biernacki is expected to name an interim police chief in the coming weeks, and the process of naming a permanent chief is pending.

“Bill has been a great asset to the team and the DeKalb community,” Biernacki said. “I think he put together one of the most efficient and effective police forces in the state of Illinois. He will be sorely missed.”

DeKalb Fire Chief Bruce Harrison said Fiethen’s decision to leave is bittersweet.

“It’s mixed emotions,” Harrison said. “Bill is a personal and professional friend of mine so while I’m happy for him, it’s also the realization he’s leaving and he’ll be missed.”

Feithen’s announcement followed two other city officials who announced they too were leaving from their posts. Harrison recently accepted a new position as Fire Chief at Notre Dame and City Clerk Steve Kapitan stated in a press release Monday that he would resign.

Biernacki also recently elected to run for city manager in Colorado; however, he did not win the position.

Although the three resignations fall closely together, Biernacki and Harrison said theyare certain they are not related.

A press release sent out Monday declaring Kapitan’s intentions of resigning stated the clerk would be leaving for personal reasons.

“It’s an instance of unbelievable coincidence,” Biernacki said. “That’s all there is to it.”

Biernacki went on to say that both Harrison and Feithen were considering leaving their respective forces individually and were not aware of each other’s intentions.

“This was something they had both been working on for a long time,” Biernacki said. “They felt it was their time to move on.”

Editor’s Note: Staff writer Melissa Mastrogiovanni contributed to this article.