Pflugerville police veteran Jim McLean was named the department's interim chief on Oct. 31. He will take over once Chief Chuck Hooker retires in January.

“In order to allow the department to begin its succession process, Chief Hooker will work with Jim and I to ease the transition in anticipating of Chuck’s retirement,” said City Manager Brandon Wade in a statement. “Chuck, Jim and I will work during this transition to establish the structure and environment necessary to implement a 21st century policing model and set the framework to search for a new chief of police.”

McLean has been with the Pflugerville Police Department for 24 years, starting as a patrolman on Dec. 20, 1993. He was promoted to senior officer in 1995, patrol sergeant in 1997 and lieutenant in 2001. Hooker promoted McLean to captain in 2004 and he has served the city as assistant police chief since 2007.

Wade indicated a search for chief will take place in 2017 with assistance from a national search firm. McLean and Wade will work on a preliminary plan for department restructuring with an emphasis on a team-based department, according to information released by the city.

In October, Hooker announced he will retire Jan. 6 after 34 years with the police department, the longest-tenured employee of the city of Pflugerville.