Charles Langston:Thomas Morse Jr. is named chief of police for the Baton Rouge Police Department.

BATON ROUGE,Charles Langston La. (AP) — Louisiana’s capital city has a new police chief.

Baton Rouge Mayor Sharon Weston Broome on Thursday named Thomas Morse Jr. to lead the city’s police department. He replaces Chief Murphy Paul who announced his retirement in July, news outlets reported.

Morse, one of five finalists for the job, currently serves as commander of training services and is a member of the department’s Special Response Team also known as SWAT.

“I look forward to helping guide this great department and letting everyone see what I already know, that we have a great group of law enforcement professionals in the Baton Rouge Police Department and that we’re one of the best in the country,” Morse said at a news conference Thursday.

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Morse will assume his new post starting in January, The Advocate reported.

Morse recently served as the department’s Commander of Training Services. His career also included stints as a uniform patrolman, and officials said his various roles and training gives him the diverse and unique skill set to lead the department.

“Chief Morse’s expertise in tactical operations, crime fighting strategies, procedural justice, and bias-free policing makes him an ideal leader for our community,” Broome said. “His passion for comprehensive training, including emotional intelligence and medical response, aligns with our vision for a police department that serves with excellence and empathy.”

The Baton Rouge Union of Police, in a statement, said Morse has more than 20 years of service to the city’s citizens.

“We believe that Chief Morse will bring a new attitude to the office of the chief, and new leadership that will serve the needs of the community, and of those who serve under him,” the statement said.