Westbrook’s director of public safety, Michael Pardue, resigned Tuesday, saying that he wants to focus his energies on his consulting firm.

Pardue, contacted at his office late Tuesday night, said city officials were aware that he would return to the private sector at some point after taking the position of fire chief in March 2010.

When Bill Baker left his position as Westbrook’s police chief, Pardue assumed the dual role of public safety director.

“The transition for me is absolutely as I planned and envisioned it,” said Pardue, whose management consulting firm, The Tideview Group, is based in Kennebunk.

Westbrook Mayor Colleen Hilton said the city will issue a statement Wednesday detailing its interim plan for managing the city’s police and fire departments. Pardue’s resignation will become effective in October.

“He has been talking about returning to the private sector for some time now,” Hilton said. “Mike has been a great leader. We are sorry to see him go.”


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