MASON CITY – Captain Mike McKelvey has been appointed as the new Chief of Police for Mason City, the city announced today.
“We’re proud to announce the appointment of Captain Mike McKelvey as the new Chief of Police for the Mason City Police Department! A familiar face with deep roots in the department, Captain McKelvey has served our community with dedication, integrity, and leadership — and now steps into this new role ready to continue that service at the highest level. Congratulations to Captain McKelvey on this well-deserved promotion!”
This development follows the retirement announcement of current Chief of Police Jeff Brinkley.
City Administrator Aaron Burnett offered a statement:
Subject to City Council approval at its August 5, 2025, meeting, I am pleased to share that Captain Mike McKelvey has accepted my appointment for him to become the next Chief of Police for the Mason City Police Department (MCPD).
Captain McKelvey has served the department well in his career and has been a great resource at the department during my tenure with the City of Mason City. Over the last 7 years, I have come to know Mike very well and I have the highest confidence in his ability to guide the department as Chief of Police into the future. I believe he will carry on the progress in supporting officers both on and off duty, work to further increase officer recruitment and retention, continue to build relationships with the community, and facilitate the department’s ability to navigate the ever-evolving world of law enforcement. When Chief Brinkley notified me of his retirement, Captain McKelvey was my immediate choice because of his measured, thoughtful, and dedicated approach to leadership in the organization. I believe the MCPD is fortunate to have this opportunity to promote from within and have a Chief that will know the challenges and opportunities that exist on Day 1. This familiarity will allow the transition to be seamless and a leader that is already connected within the community. I believe that internal advancement is the hallmark of an organization that values its people and invests in their future. For these reasons it is my great pleasure to announce Captain McKelvey will be the acting Police Chief effective 11/14/2025 and request confirmation of the permanent appointment of Michael McKelvey to Chief of Police by the City Council effective 2/10/2026.