(STURGIS) – Sturgis City Manager Mike Hughes has appointed Ryan Banaszak to be the Interim Director of Public Safety.

Hughes made the announcement Thursday afternoon. It comes following the resignation of Geoffrey Smith as the Director of Public Safety during Wednesday's Sturgis City Commission meeting.

Banaszak started with the Sturgis Police Department in 2005, and has held many positions within the Department. He served as the Sturgis Public Schools Resource Officer and later was promoted to Sergeant. He was promoted to Detective-Sergeant in 2013 after Smith was hired as the Director of Public Safety.

The Safety Town project was started by Banaszak while he was the School Resource Officer.

Banaszak was promoted to Deputy Police Chief, and in 2019 graduated from the 276th session of the FBI National Academy Program.

Hughes has not said when the City will begin the search for a new Director of Public Safety.