City of Centralia appoints new police chief Monday night

CENTRALIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Centralia city government appointed Harlan Hatton as the new police chief during its board of aldermen meeting Monday night.

Chief Hatton will start on Dec.13.

In September, the former Centralia Police Department chief Bob Bias took a severance retirement package. Three other officer resignations followed Bias' resignation.

Centralia's Mayor Chris Cox told ABC 17 News, the police department is working with six officers, four down from its usual rotation.

However, the Boone County Sheriff's Office has provided deputy help since the dip in staff at Centralia PD.

Nat Stoebe is currently serving as the interim chief.

The meeting on Friday will be held at 6:30 p.m. in the Centralia City Hall Council Chambers.

The board of aldermen also plans to approve budgeted inter-fund transfers, set compensations for certain City of Centralia employees, and call for an April 5 municipal election.