Wayland police officer Jason Beckwith is leaving the force later this month to take a post with the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety.

Beckwith, who has served in Wayland for the past six year, is one of five full-time officers. The others are Jay Anderson, Tom Newberry, Mark Riemersma and Bernard Austof.

Steven Harper is the chief and Mark Rookus is sergeant.

Harper told the City Council Monday night that Beckwith wanted to take a job in which he could be both a police officer and a firefighter.

“I’m glad to have him do what he wants to do, we are sad that he is leaving us,” the chief said.

Councilman Rick Mathis said, “I know he (Beckwith) will still be around as a resident and an advocate of the city.”