The Town of Pine Ridge has selected Keith Parks as its new police chief.

Chief Parks is a native of Chicago, Ill, and has served in law enforcement for 15 years.

He studied criminal justice at Parkland College and graduated from the University of North Dakota with his Bachelor’s in Education and Human Development. Park received his Master’s in Public Administration from Bellevue University.

He is a 2014 graduate of the FBI’s Supervisor Leadership, Command and Executive Leadership institutes.

Officer Frankie Neeley had been serving as interim police chief after former Chief Nicholas Scott resigned in Oct. 2018.

Scott cited a “hostile work environment” as his reason for resigning just 6 months after taking the job.

Chief Parks was sworn in at the Dec. 10 town council meeting.