Cory Lyman said Thursday he will leave his post as Ketchum, Idaho, police chief in mid-October to accept a position at a Salt Lake-area law enforcement agency. He declined to identify the agency or job title, saying he wanted his new employer to make that announcement.

Lyman gave his resignation to Ketchum officials this week.

He left the Salt Lake City police department in 2003 amid controversy over the Smart investigation, which had focused for months on handyman Richard Ricci, who eventually was found not to be involved in the kidnapping.

Lyman has said he is responsible for not going public earlier with information on accused kidnapper Brian David Mitchell - and regrets it.

But he stands by the investigation. Lyman has insisted that police weren't "too" focused on Ricci, noting that half the investigative team didn't believe the handyman kidnapped Elizabeth and were pursuing other leads.

- Erin Alberty