McLouth ? McLouth has a police chief.

After nearly a year with an interim chief, the McLouth City Council unanimously approved hiring a member of the Topeka Police Department as its top law enforcement post.

Marcus Koch will leave his position as a resource officer in Topeka Public Schools to become McLouth’s police chief.

McLouth Mayor Mike Graveman said he was pleased with the hire.

“There are some long-term goals there that I’m happy we can now focus on,” Graveman said. “Without a full-time chief, it’s difficult to have them.”

Koch will begin his new position March 18. His annual salary will be $42,000.

Koch replaces interim chief Danny Ruff, a Tonganoxie police officer who has served on an interim basis since last March.

Ruff replaced Tom Burns, who Graveman had put on suspension last March, but did not specify why, citing he couldn’t speak about personnel matters.

Burns then retired in May.