Hutto officials have selected a veteran Deer Park police department lieutenant to be the city's new chief of police.

Earl Morrison will step in to lead the Hutto police department starting August 18. Over a 14-year period, Morrison climbed the ranks of the Deer Park police department, which is near the Houston area. He worked as a patrolman, detective, sergeant and lieutenant. Morris also served as an army combat medic, a corrections officer and received a master's degree in criminal justice from the University of Houston, according to a news release.

"We are very excited to have Chief Morrison join our team in Hutto. He will be leading our highly respected and professional Hutto Police Department," Hutto City Manager Karen Daly said in a statement.

Interim chief Rick Stone vacated the police chief position July 9. Daly said he had completed his interim duties.

On May 10, Hutto citizens voted down a civil service measure that would have changed how the city promotes, hires, pays and disciplines its police officers. Cities with a civil service model have stricter pay scales governed by rank instead of merit and officers can appeal disciplinary actions. Police departments with civil service also place increased emphasis on test scores for hiring decisions.