ALGONA—Police Chief Kendal Pals is planning to retire, effective June 30. He informed city leaders of the decision this week and spoke to the Kossuth County Advance about the decision Friday morning.
Pals, the chief since being appointed in 2016 by then Mayor Lynn Kueck, has served the city in law enforcement either as an officer, reserve or chief for 38 years, said he has three things he wants to accomplish in retirement - continuing to be a member of the workforce in some manner, do more volunteer work and do more recreational things.
A native of Rock Rapids, Pals first came to Algona in June 1980 after graduating from Western Iowa Tech community college in Sioux City and working at night as an officer in Whiting, Iowa. He was an officer from 1980 to 1997, then served as a reserve while working for Hormel, and then at the end of 2005 returned to the police force. He also worked part-time as an officer for the city of Britt.
The Algona City Council will act on the retirement at its May 17 regular meeting.
The Advance will have a complete report in its May 13 print edition.