Two City of Cayce employees have announced they are leaving their roles, and one will be working for the Town of Irmo; this occurred shortly after Cayce got its second new police chief in less than six months.

Jim Crosland, the current city manager of Cayce, is Irmo’s new town administrator, effective in July, while Cayce’s finance director, Kelly McMullen, is leaving for a job with the S.C. Housing Authority.

Crosland announced his retirement earlier this month after serving the city in various roles for over 28 years, including city manager, deputy city manager and former assistant director of the Cayce Department of Public Safety.

The city released at the time that Crosland’s last day would be Aug. 8.

Crosland announced his retirement before the job in Irmo, his hometown, became available.

And Irmo says his first day will be July 7.

A Cayce spokesperson told the Chronicle that city leaders are in the process of sorting out the conflicting timeline.

“It’s a rarity that in an organization someone can start at the very basic level entry position and have an opportunity to retire as the City Manager,” Crosland wrote in a statement to Cayce council members before the job in Irmo opened up. “I believe we have set a firm foundation for moving forward with a concentration in economic development, code compliance procedures, implementing new employee incentives, and creating wonderful partnerships with our citizens and commercial partners.”

According to a release from the Town of Irmo, Crosland was unanimously appointed on May 21 to assume the role of town administrator, replacing Courtney Dennis, who announced his resignation earlier this month.

“Courtney has been a pillar of our town government,” Irmo Mayor Bill Danielson said in a press release. “His leadership, vision and steady hand have helped Irmo move forward and his presence will be deeply missed. We are grateful for all he has done and wish him continued success in the next chapter of his career.’’

Dennis has accepted a job in the private sector.

McMullen, Cayce’s current finance director, will be leaving in the coming weeks. The city is currently in the throes of budget season, required to have a finalized and balanced budget by June 30. The new budget will take effect on July 1, as required by state law.

Bruce Wade was hired by the City of Cayce in March (and sworn in in May) as the Chief of the Cayce Police Department. This happened not long after Herbert Blake’s December 2024 resignation; he was Cayce’s police chief for less than three months.

Earlier Chronicle reporting details that the city mutually parted ways with Blake, wishing him well, and that in his Dec. 13 resignation letter, all Blake wrote was, "Dear Mr. Crosland; This letter serves as notice of my resignation as police chief for the city of Cayce. My resignation effective today's date. Thank you very much for the opportunity you afforded me."

Current Chief Wade began his career in 1998, serving as a correctional officer. In 2004, he began working with the West Columbia Police Department and was named the police captain over investigations in 2012.

Prior to being hired, Wade had been serving in an advisory role at the City of Cayce police department through a partnership between Cayce and the City of West Columbia.

The next regularly scheduled meeting of Cayce City Council is on June 3 at 6 p.m. at 1800 12th St.