Fife’s police chief is moving on to pastures new.
Chief Superintendent Garry McEwan made the surprise announcement at a meeting of the safer communities committee at the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s Fife headquarters in Thornton.
He informed members he had secured a position in Police Scotland’s Custodies Division which he would be taking up in the “near future”.
Mr McEwan has risen through the ranks since joining Fife Constabulary in 1990.
He initially worked in CID in Kirkcaldy and Glenrothes until 1997 when he was appointed Deputy Director of Intelligence at CID Headquarters.
In November 2007, Mr McEwan was promoted to Chief Inspector and two years later he became a Detective Superintendent with responsibility for Crime Management and had oversight of the Public Protection Unit, working with partners across Fife.
He also had oversight on Operation Mercer, the largest and most complex inquiry undertaken by Fife Constabulary.
On promotion to Chief Superintendent, he became Head of the Corporate Management Division and led the force’s efficiencies programme before becoming Police Scotland’s Fife Divisonal Commander in 2013.
Addressing members of the safer communities committee Mr McEwan said: “I’m moving on to another job to deal with custodies nationally.
“As this is my last meeting, I would like to thank everyone for their assistance, commitment and support over the years.”
Mr McEwan added that Superintendent Angela McLaren would be transferred to Fife as a “temporary” Chief Superintendent from Monday and told The Courier that further details on his departure would be issued later this week.
Councillor Margaret Kennedy said: “On behalf of all members, I would like to say a huge thank you to Garry for all he has done for Fife over the years and for his dedication and support he has given elected members.”