Kansas City, Kan. ? The police department in Kansas City, Kan., has a new chief.

The appointment of 32-year department veteran Rick Armstrong was announced Thursday. He succeeds Chief Sam Breshears, who retired in June.

Armstrong had been a deputy chief under Breshears. Over the past three decades he worked his way up from police cadet and has worked nearly all positions in the department.

Armstrong has a master’s degree in public administration from Kansas University; a bachelor’s degree from Mid-America Nazarene University; and an associate’s degree in administration of justice from Johnson County Community College.