A retired Missouri State Highway Patrol lieutenant will lead the Houston Police Department beginning Sept. 1.
Jim McNiell, who retired in May after 33 years with the patrol, was hired Wednesday by the Houston City Council. McNiell will replace Police Chief Carloss “Joe” Kirkman who ends a 24-year career with the Houston Police Department. Kirkman plans to retire to Florida.
McNiell and his wife, Wilda, moved this summer to Houston, where he started his highway patrol career in October 1978. McNiell later was promoted in July 1992 and moved to the Bootheel, where he served as commander of Troop E’s service center at Sikeston.
The McNiells moved here to be closer to their two grown children, Jeff, who is editor of the Houston Herald; Jennifer, a Houston Elementary School teacher; and their almost 3-year-old granddaughter.
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