The council met at 7 a.m. in a special executive session to name Sgt. Mike Donnell as Marshall's new police chief effective Wednesday, Sept. 3. He will be sworn in at the council's regular meeting Tuesday, Sept. 2, Latimer said.

Sgt. David Roscher will become the city's assistant police chief at the same time.

Latimer said Interim Police Chief Bob King, who served as assistant chief prior to former chief Jim Simmerman's retirement in May, intends to retire at the end of the year.

King will remain on staff as an adminstrative advisor until then, she said.

"We're glad to have the opportunity to promote from within," she said.

Donnell has been with the department for about 14 years and Roscher for more than 20 years, according to Latimer.

"Mike has been here all his life," she said. "He started as a reserve officer and worked his way up. And David is one of our best-kept secrets."

Roscher said today he was "surprised, but happy," with the promotion. "It's still kind of a shock," he said. "But it's a good surprise."