Pevely officials looked in-house and promoted Lt. Jamie Mayberry as the city’s new police chief.
Mayor Steve Markus said Board of Aldermen members voted unanimously Monday to promote Mayberry. That vote was taken over the internet because that night’s regular Board of Aldermen meeting was called off due to inclement weather.
Mayberry, 49, immediately took over as police chief after the vote and after City Clerk Ashton Cooke swore him in at City Hall, officials said.
His salary was increased from about $75,000 a year as lieutenant to $100,000 as police chief, he reported.
Mayberry and Capt. Don Moore had been leading the department following the departure of former Police Chief Mark Glenn, who left the job in late August due to longtime health concerns.
City Administrator Andy Hixson said 15 people applied for the police chief position.
Mayberry’s familiarity with the department and his leadership skills made him a promising candidate for police chief, Markus said.
“He’s been here several years,” he said. “He’s shown good leadership. He’s calm under pressure. He’s a good fit for the city. I know he’ll do a good job.”
Hixson also said Mayberry’s time in the department made him stand out among all the applicants, adding that Mayberry helped stabilize the department during Glenn’s health issues.
“I’ve worked with him a little more than four years now,” Hixson said. “He has certainly helped manage the Police Department over the last couple years under some unique circumstances.”
Mayberry has worked in law enforcement for 25 years and has been a member of the Pevely Police Department for the past four years.
After graduating from the Mineral Area College Law Enforcement Academy, Mayberry worked for the Potosi Police Department from 2000-2013 and the Byrnes Mill Police Department from 2013-2021 before joining the Pevely Police force. An Air Force veteran, he served in security forces, leaving the service as a senior airman.
“I’ve always had a drive to serve,” Mayberry said. “When I came here, I was able to learn a lot from Mark Glenn before he retired. He inspired me to want to be a chief. When he retired due to health reasons, I wanted to follow in his footsteps.”
Mayberry said he intends to seek guidance from other law enforcement leaders in the area.
“I’m a new chief,” he said. “I know there are a lot of good law enforcement leaders in the county. I hope to learn from them all.”
Mayberry said the Pevely Police Department has 15 officers when it’s fully staffed, but right now the department has several open positions.
“We’re seeking to hire five new officers,” he said. “We’ve made offers to several going through law enforcement academies.”
Mayberry said he has several goals as police chief.
“One of my primary goals is to professionalize the department,” he said. “Basically, to organize how we approach community policing. I want the officers to get advanced training. I want to have a solid leadership team that moves the department forward in the future.”
Mayberry and his wife, Adrienne, live in Festus and have four children.
“(Adrienne) works at Jefferson County 911 Dispatch,” he said.
Mayberry said he looks forward to his new role as police chief.
“It’s an honor to serve this community,” Mayberry said. “I want to give the best possible service to the community.”
Glenn served as the Pevely Police Chief from Nov. 29, 2021, until leaving the position in late August. He was on medical leave from Oct. 24, 2024, when he suffered a stroke, until May 1, 2025, when he returned to work on a part-time basis.
Before Glenn left the Pevely Police chief job in August, he had been working about 20 hours per week and was being paid $1,165.01 per week, city staff previously reported.
Prior to his leave, he was paid $121,000 a year as police chief.