Retired DeKalb Police Lt. Ron Pearson was named DeKalb’s interim police chief on Thursday.

Pearson will temporarily fill the position left vacant by former Police Chief Bill Feithen, who announced plans earlier this month to leave the DeKalb Police Department to take a job as the police chief in Monmouth.

City Manager Mark Biernacki said Pearson approached him a few weeks ago, upon Feithen’s announcement, and expressed interest in the interim position. Biernacki said expects a lot of internal interest for the permanent position and wanted to ensure a fair search process by filling the interim position with someone who didn’t already work in the police department. The process of searching for the permanent police chief replacement will take about three months, Biernacki said.

DeKalb Mayor Kris Povlsen said Pearson started working for the DeKalb Police Department in 1970 as a patrol officer and after 30 years of service, Pearson retired in 2000.

“I think Mr. Pearson will do an excellent job,” Povlsen said. “I’m pleased that someone with his experience has stepped forward.”

Pearson has his bachelor’s degree in education from Northern Illinois University and a degree in criminal justice from Aurora University, Biernacki said.