HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The new police chief for the city of Hutchinson begins his duties Wednesday.

Jeff Hooper will take over the department from Dick Heitschmidt, who recently retired.

Hooper has served as a captain with the joint Riley County-Manhattan Police Department. That included 27 years in law enforcement and 14 as captain.

He was actually a finalist for the chief’s position with that department, but withdrew his name from consideration to take the job in Hutchinson.

He was originally supposed to start on Monday, Oct. 22, but — according to City Manager John Deardoff — Hooper apparently changed that and will start early.

The department has been led by Interim Chief Alan Stoecklein.